Windows Phone: Windows Mobile 6.5

Microsoft just launched their Windows Mobile 6.5 Family, dubbed Windows Phone.  Featuring the next generation phones, with easier usability, browser enhancements, and a new user interface.

Using Windows Mobile 6.5 as the software, several top phone companies have banded together with Microsoft to create an amazing line-up. Let’s see what these phones can offer that’s different.

AT&T has released the Tilt 2 by HTC, also available as the HTC Touch Pro 2 by Verizon which is designed to attract business-minded people with its TouchFLO 3D mode and QWERTY keyboard. Even more important is the focus of this phone to provide professionals with an interactive venue for conference calls with a high quality speakerphone.

AT&T’s HTC Pure which is an offshoot of Diamond 2, without the heavy design, is now a sleek, glossy mobile with an autofocus 3.5 megapixel camera, and a 3.2 inch screen.

Verizon matches AT&T with its HTC Imagio which is essentially an upgrade from the Touch Diamond 2. It allows you to customize the phone according to your needs; has a bigger screen, GSM and CDMA with 3G, and the FLO TV tuner. Stream music, sports, news, movies, and even stock market reports with Imagio, and experience the freedom of mobility.

Samsung’s Intrepid which is being retailed for the same price as the Pure is an upgrade of the OMNIA Pro, available from Sprint.

Comparing Windows 6.5 to the older 6.1, the entire experience is upgraded.  But it seems like a minor upgrade from 6.1 and still does not compete with the iPhone in the overall user experience, although the new Windows Marketplace is a step in the right direction to compete with the app store. One reason to buy it is the Exchange ActiveSync technology is a cut above the rest, but on the other hand, why not just wait for Windows Mobile 7.0?