Windows Mobile 6 devices in the UK

[Guest tawse57]

Hi,

Does anyone know when Windows Mobile 6 devices will begin shipping in the UK. I just read a review online that says WM6 will not be out until the second quarter in the US which means, per usual, that the UK most likely will not see WM6 until late Summer or early Autumn.

Just wondering as I am thinking of buying a Vario or Blackjack in the next month and was wondering whether it was worth waiting until WM6 came with the phone? I assume now that WM6 devices are a long, long way away in the UK?

Tawse.

[Guest Tech]

most likely yes they are a long way away from the UK. I'd say around autumn....when orange get them, thats usually when you will see other carriers obtain devices with WM6

[Guest tawse57]

Thanks for the info.

I find it a tad odd though. When MS launches a new PC OS such as Vista the launch is global and PC makers have hundreds of thousands of them ready to ship from day one to all countries.

Is the UK becoming to mobile phones what we have become to games consoles - get them after everyone else, pay a premium and perhaps get some features disabled also.

Anyhow, the Autumn is too long to wait for my new phone.

[Guest Tech]

its nothing to do with MS....its to do with the carriers unfortunately. The mobile and PC world are different markets on top of that. In addition there are no "premium" fees or anything that manufacturers pay to obtain say, Vista before the official launch date. ;)

Just the way the carriers work - they need to test it and customize it to their needs/requirements which takes time (branding etc...)

[Guest OzzMosiz]

How will we go about upgrading Mobile 5 to 6? Is this done via the phone companies?

[Guest Tech]

no, upgrades are never done and pretty much non existant. you need to go for a new mobile device, since the OS was designed and tested on such devices and not really previous WM devices

Some carriers may do it, but 99% in the UK they never do it.

Edited March 23, 2007 by Tech

[Guest spacerace]

err at least one WM6 device should be out in April - HTC has a S710 (VOX) release date of something like April 17th, and news was posted last night that Orange France would release their version of it - the E650 - at the end of April, and Orange UK shouldn't be too far behind that...

not to mention various existing device upgrades that will hopefully be officially released soon (Treo 750, HTC S620)