| Sparks fly as Magneto morphs into Windows Mobile 5.0 |
May 11, 2005
 [Updated May 11] -- Following weeks of speculation and anticipation, it's official. In Tuesday's opening keynote at the Mobile and Embedded Developers' Conference in Las Vegas, Bill Gates announced the release to manufacturing of Microsoft's next-generation mobile phone operating system, now known as Windows Mobile 5.0 (formerly codenamed Magneto).
(Click here for larger image of Today screen)
Among other features, the new mobile software platform merges Microsoft's Pocket PC and Smartphone platforms into a single OS (as previously reported), and according to Microsoft, it offers phone-makers greater flexibility and freedom to customize. It also includes updated "Office Mobile" software (as previously reported), support for memory that persists across battery depletion, support for one-handed operation, and more.
The new features of Windows Mobile 5.0 fall into three broad categories, described by Microsoft as follows (click each screen shot for a larger view) . . .
Customization Options
Microsoft says that Windows Mobile 5.0 provides device-makers and mobile operators with more ways to differentiate themselves from competitors:- Increased platform flexibility -- The top customization request, enables partners to plug in differentiated technologies such as "push-to-talk" or video calling and conferencing
 - Network support -- Support for higher bandwidth 3G networks, Wi-Fi for the Smartphone platform, and improvements to existing Bluetooth support
- One-handed operation -- Soft-key integration, landscape display orientation and QWERTY keyboard support will enable hardware partners to develop improved one-handed keyboard navigation that allows users to access information without a stylus, Microsoft says.
Increased Productivity
Mobile information workers will have more efficient and secure access to information, according to Microsoft, with features such as: - Persistent memory storage -- Retains information even when the device's battery is depleted
 - Office software for Windows Mobile -- Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile let users create, edit, and view documents while maintaining format compatibility with desktop PCs.
- Security -- Microsoft says Windows Mobile 5.0 has gone through extensive "threat-modeling testing," and completed Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing full security review. The platform is also FIPS-140-2-certified, meaning it meets U.S. government security requirements for IT products.
Integrated Multimedia
- Windows Media Player 10 Mobile -- Lets users synchronize music and video files from a PC or download them from Internet services or mobile operators. The updated player also synchronizes users' playlists, album art and song ratings
 - Pictures and video -- A new pictures and video application adds features such as burst mode and a timer function previously found only on high-end digital cameras, according to Microsoft.
- Extended storage -- Support for hard drives and USB 2.0 lets users store digital picture and music libraries and other large amounts of information on a mobile device, and synchronize this content with PCs.
Gates sums it up
"In the past five years, there's been a profound shift in the kind of data and services people access on their mobile devices -- from multimedia to business applications," Gates said. "Windows Mobile 5.0 enables our industry partners to develop exciting new hardware designs and solutions that will revolutionize how customers use mobile devices."
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