Windows Mobile 6.1 Is MIA

With the largest mobile phone-related tradeshow of the year going on now in Barcelona, Microsoft had been widely expected to unveil Windows Mobile 6.1 this week. However, it's clear this isn't going to happen.

Microsoft held a press conference at Mobile World Congress yesterday and made several important announcements, from the first Sony Ericsson smartphone running Windows Mobile (read more) to its acquisition of Danger, Inc. (read more).

But this event came and went without the really big news many had expected: the unveiling of the next version of Windows Mobile.

Exactly why this happened is not known; Microsoft doesn't officially acknowledge that Windows Mobile 6.1 even exists, and so won't answer answer questions about it on the record.

Hard on the Licensees

No Windows Mobile 6.1 announcement has left many smartphone makers in an awkward position; they want to show off their upcoming devices to the throngs of people in Barcelona, but can't say that many of these products run an unannounced operating system.

This has forced them to tightly control access to these devices. For example, when showing off the new Xperia X1, Sony Ericsson representatives will only allow reporters to see the new panel interface, without even opening the Start Menu.

And all images of the new Advantage X7510 have a blank screen, because HTC can't show the updated user interface.

Still, it's clear that Microsoft wanted the Windows Mobile 6.1 announcement to be this week, so it has to be somewhat close to releasing it. When that's going to happen though, remains a mystery.

Related Articles:

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• Sony Ericsson Unveils Its First Windows Mobile Smartphone
• HTC Advantage Uber-Handheld Getting Upgraded