Microsoft: Over 30 Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones launching before year-end

Does WinMo butter your biscuit? Do you chuckle, not cringe, at the antics of Microsoft's CEO? Then lean in close, we've got something that's going to make your day. Benjamin Tan, senior director of Microsoft's GCR Mobile Team Unit in China, says that more than 30 Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones from over 15 handset vendors will launch before the end of 2009. And you thought 15 to 20 Android phones were a lot.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 10:36AM]

My first smartphone was a Motorola q9c running win-mo 6.1. I switched to Blackberry and haven't looked back. But with all these new phones with win-mo 6.5 inspire me to give Win-mo another look. It should be a great holliday season with all the new phones coming out. I can't see me giving up bb unless it is for the Nokia N900 but I definitely am giveing all the new phones a hands-on. I am rocking a curve 8900 now and am definitely going to get a 3g capable phone for Christmas.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 2:51PM]

Very good comment that probably speaks the truth that the majority "non-iphone" users probably don't possess a 3G handset yet. Scores of smartphone users are still using BBs or other smartphones that have not been upgraded yet.

But the question remains.. Do I buy a WinMo 6.5 phone now? Or do I hold out for WinMo 7?

Good example is U.S. T-Mobile which only has 1 or 2 WinMo smartphones (HTC Pro Touch 2 and HTD Dash 3G) in their line-up. And their prices for these phones even on a 2 year extended contract are outrageous. $349 and $169 respectively.

Personally , I have been eying the Dash 3G to upgrade from my old DASH.
But not at $169. Right now I have no contract and feel pretty good. My old Dash has been doing everything I need it to do with the exception of 3G and better memory/cpu for video processing.

Will I spend the extra $169 and committ to a 2 yr agreement just for these 2 features? Definitely not.

Will I spend $150 to $200 for an incredible WinMo smartphone with 7.0 , 3G, Snapdragon or equivalent type processor with more bells and whistles?
Probably yes.


Now it is all about timing.
I can see by giving in before the holdiays it will be less than 6 months later an entire new line-up of must have smartphones will burst wide open.

Today, many traditional non-smartphone , standard cell phone users are eyeing up smartphones as they go to renew contracts. Everyone from middle schoolers to Granny are jumping on the bandwagon. The Providers are seeing these trends and are now going hog wild on producing the next I-Phone Killer.

I just wish T-Mobile would get on-board and start offering more like ATT, SPRINt and Verizon are doing.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 11:02AM]

Can anyone please explain to me why on Earth I would want to invest into a WinMo 6.5 handset only to be lusting over Winmo 7 in the not so distant future only to be later told that my current hardware using WinMo 6.5 is not compatibile and needs to be upgraded if I want to use WinMo 7?
I digress, does WinMo 6.5 even stand a fighting chance against WebOs and Android from an open source, user friendly point of view?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 11:06AM]

N900 FTW

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2009 12:03PM]

Because some people on this earth need a new smartphone now so they have to make a choice now,6.1 or 6.5 wm. Atleast you can hold out until oct.8Th and get the 6.5 wm and the latest apps .

[johdaxx Posted Sep 23rd 2009 1:44PM]

I have a sinking feeling that it will be 30 new handsets that are all the same. Not necessarily in a good way.