Windows Mobile 6 free to PDA manufacturers issuing upgrades

by Brad Linder Feb 27th 2007

When you buy a PC, it tends to come with an operating system pre-installed. But whether you're running a Mac, Linux, or Windows-based machine, odds are you've been able to reinstall, update, or change that operating system. That hasn't typically been the case with Windows Mobile devices (unless you count attempts to port Linux to various handhelds).

Early Pocket PCs had the OS built into ROM, and the only way to get an upgrade was to buy a new chip from your PDA manufacturer -- if they released one. Most modern Windows Mobile devices store the OS in flash memory, but updates tend to be device specific. And that can be expensive for PDA makers that have had to buy licenses from Microsoft, customize the new OS, and test it before sending it out. The result? Getting an official OS update for a Windows Mobile PDA has been the exception rather than the rule.

It looks like Microsoft's making it a little bit easier for manufacturers to release updates to Windows Mobile 6. The company is giving free licenses to any vendors who issue upgrades for their devices. Just because the license is free doesn't mean manufacturers won't charge the consumer. Customizing Windows Mobile 6 for each device is still a lot of work.

But does that mean we'll see updates issued for Dell Axim or HP iPaq models anytime soon? I wouldn't hold my breath. But it's possible.

Tags: update, upgrade, windows mobile 6, WindowsMobile6

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Genjinaro said 9:34PM on 2-27-2007

I for one look forward to the Dell Axim's X51 series to get the update, though it may be a pipe dream.
I want this, namely for its SD card encryption & its HTML email rendering. I also like the updates for the calendar and contacts too. I'd like to keep my things up to date, my X51v no less...

joel said 6:28AM on 2-28-2007

Think there is any connection between this and the recent mandate Microsoft made to xda-developer that they had to remove windows rom images?

doublej said 7:44AM on 2-28-2007

i think you might have spotted it, poster #2

I have a post on that forum that predicts they'll use it to drive hardware sales, rather than retail it.

jj

Andrew Hillman, Andrew Hillman said 9:07AM on 2-28-2007

Wow Im Very suprised!

Jacob Varghese said 12:13PM on 2-28-2007

Wow, that screen just shouts Microsoft.
So damn cluttered.

I'm no Apple fanboy, but hopefully the iPhone will force the competition to fix their mobile OSes.

epobirs said 1:23PM on 2-28-2007

This makes a lot of sense for Microsoft. Windows Mobile 6 supports a lot of new features that require an up to date Exchange Server to fully exploit. Selling Exchange licenses is much more lucrative than Windows Mobile licenses, so getting as many existing devices out there as possible to drive demand for those Server upgrades is a good strategy.

RJ said 2:25PM on 2-28-2007

Whats up with this story?
http://msmobiles.com/news.php/6110.html

rch said 2:42PM on 2-28-2007

Very interesting! Thanks for posting.

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smart said 2:58PM on 2-28-2007

Very interesting! Thanks for posting.

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Logan Koester said 3:08PM on 2-28-2007

My phone is not a desktop. I *want* as much information as possible on my Today screen. I don't care if it's cluttered; it's a lot easier to look around one chaotic screen than to navigate between 5 cleaner views while I'm driving, wearing gloves, or doing something with my other hand.

Logan Koester said 3:13PM on 2-28-2007

Another quick thought; if you're going to require email verification for comments, it would be nice to use a mailserver that can get the message out in under an hour.

Cheers!

GBot said 4:48PM on 2-28-2007

"Wow, that screen just shouts Microsoft.
So damn cluttered."

Dude, the always-present menu bar and object dock in OSX vs. the clean taskbar of any Windows distro...

Until Apple wants to make a mobile version of their OS, you're just comparing apples to oranges, no pun intended.

If M$ hasn't done anything to amaze you lately, check this out:
http://labs.live.com/Photosynth.aspx

Nobody Special said 8:34AM on 3-01-2007

@ #7 - MSMobiles is crap and he doesn't know what he's talking about. Pay no attention to that site.

Thai Dang Vu said 1:46PM on 3-01-2007

It's interesting only if I can update the Windows Mobile 5 on my Axim 51v to Windows Mobile 6 for free (or at a low cost). So it's up to Dell ...

Jacob Varghese said 2:29PM on 3-01-2007

Gbot,

uh, where have you been?
check out the iphone with mobile OSX http://www.apple.com/iphone/

junl said 2:20PM on 3-14-2007

Im ready to buy my first personal PDA phone but I would like to know when will the windows mobile 6 pdas and the apple iphone be coming out from cingular. Does anyone knows?

Emil Gerenmark said 12:55PM on 4-30-2007

I am Will Downloadad Now

ashish said 2:17PM on 5-03-2007

i am gonnaload it on O2.

Paul Coelho said 10:45AM on 5-08-2007

Where can i download windows mobile 6.

Does anybody know where i can download it.

Thanx.

box man said 8:11AM on 5-28-2007

can somone assist me, i would like to update my device's OS from mobile 5 to mobile 6.can someone send me a linkw here i can upgrade my imate K-Jam

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