Pocket View

In this issue you'll read about two different sides of the Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade. End-users will find a new emphasis on ease of use. Enterprise IT professionals will discover that they can manage Windows Mobile devices as effectively as Windows laptops and desktops thanks to new security and control features.

The thinking behind the Windows Mobile 6.1 update

Adding security and control features were the final necessary steps to make Windows Mobile a clear choice for many large organizations. Enterprise decision makers will find the new 6.1 features compelling, especially when coupled with robust push HTML e-mail, the ability to read Office attachments, and an operating system that supports custom apps.

Although Windows Mobile devices have an incredible number of features, the average person still finds them too intimidating to enjoy. The iPhone proved that a device could offer phone, Wi-Fi, e-mail, Internet, music, photos, and video in one device and not overwhelm the user.

The new Getting Started application eliminates some of the deficiencies of the Windows Mobile user interface and helps users get through the initial learning curve. The new Today Screen Sliding Panel makes navigating through features more intuitive. I've used the new sliding panel on a non-touch HTC S620 (T-Mobile Dash) for a couple of weeks, and although it's not perfect, it definitely makes the phone easier and more fun to use.

Expect to see the next versions of Windows Mobile designed to make devices even more compelling for the end user.

It seems Microsoft wants to trump the iPhone with the XPERIA X1. Microsoft's new partnership with Sony-Ericsson demonstrates the importance of the "wow factor." However, as Apple proved, substance must accompany hype. The user experience will be key in making the XPERIA successful.

New kinds of Windows Mobile devices

For years I've advocated that Windows Mobile technology be used on larger devices. I was a big fan of the NEC MobilePro Handheld PC series with its half screen and touch-typeable keyboard. I am intrigued by the HTC Advantage.

Why not use Windows Mobile to make a small, easy-to-use, battery efficient laptop? Given Microsoft's new emphasis on ease-of-use, a Windows Mobile mini-laptop would be a great device for novices who want out-of-the-box functionality. Unsophisticated users could have instant Internet, e-mail, music, video, photos, Word, and Excel all built-in and ready to go. It would also be a boon for road warriors who need basic computing functionality and wireless connectivity in a small, lightweight form factor with long battery life. Solid state storage means instant-on and no vulnerable mechanical drives.

It seems that Microsoft is committing to do just that. Microsoft has brought on Len Kawell—a former founding member of Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie's Iris Associates—to help the Redmond software company port the Windows Mobile operating system to new form factors called Mobile Internet Devices (MID). As the Internet becomes a vehicle for just about everything—news, social networking, movies, TV, music—MIDs will be a new generation of devices to deliver these media.

Microsoft may want to recommit to software developers

The next generation iPhone will allow the user to load a variety of yet-to-be-developed third-party software. Since the iPhone interface is compelling and non-threatening, and all software will be sold through iTunes, this should be a boon for third-party developers.