Windows Mobile 6.5 Debuting Next Month?

Microsoft is going to unveil the next version of Windows Mobile at a tradeshow next month, if an unconfirmed report is correct.

The Mobile World Congress will be held in Barcelona in February, and Windows Mobile 6.5 will be officially announced there, according to neowin.net.

Windows Mobile 6.5?

Although there has been no formal announcement of Windows Mobile 6.5, it's existence went beyond the rumor stage this fall when no less a person than Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, mentioned it in a speech.

Unfortunately, a good sense of what will be in this new version has not yet emerged. Still, a few clues have come to the surface.

"In the Cloud" Services

neowin.net claims it was tipped off to a collection on online services that will be part of Windows Mobile 6.5.

SkyBox will allow consumers to synchronize their data with a remote server. This will allow them to backup their data, but also access it with a Web interface. There will supposedly be a similar offering aimed at small businesses called SkyLine with ties to Microsoft Exchange.

A third service, SkyMarket, will reportedly allow consumers to buy Windows Mobile software over the Internet.

Details on all these online services remain sketchy, including what Microsoft intends to charge for access to the first two.

via neowin.net