Samsung Ace Gets Windows Mobile 6.1 Upgrade, GPS Support

The latest smartphone to get a Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade is Sprint's Samsung Ace. Easily the most significant enhancement in this is support for this device's GPS functions.

The Ace has always had the hardware for a GPS receiver, but its software didn't support it. This OS upgrade takes care of this problem.

It does not, however, include support for EV-DO Rev. A. Even with this upgrade, the Ace still has the original version of EV-DO.

What Else Is New?

The new version of Windows Mobile also adds a sliding panel interface for the Today Screen, improvements in handling wireless connections, and an update to Internet Explorer Mobile.

In addition, Office Mobile 6.1 lets users edit the latest versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents

For more information about these and other enhancements, read Brighthand's review of Windows Mobile 6.1.

This free software ROM and downloading instructions are available at samsungmobileusa.com.

An Overview of the Samsung Ace World Phone

For those who are unfamiliar with it, the Samsung Ace has a tablet shape with a QWERTY keyboard below its QVGA screen.

It is a smartphone that can be used in the United States and around the world. In the U.S., the Ace connects to Sprint's CDMA network, and offers the 3G service EV-DO Rev. 0.  In other parts of the world, it can connect to GSM networks (900/1800 MHz). Data access will be slow, though, as it only offers GPRS, not even the 2.5G standard EDGE.

Because this device runs Windows Mobile 6 Standard it's QVGA display is not a touchscreen. However, this device has a physical keyboard for entering text.

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