Microsoft posts--then removes--Windows Mobile 6.5 SDK
Microsoft briefly posted a Windows Mobile 6.5 software development kit to its Microsoft Download Center website last week, removing the SDK within a matter of hours. According to ZDNet, the WinMo 6.5 SDK appeared on Jan. 22, and remained online long enough for some bloggers and developers to download the kit--some speculate Microsoft pulled the download because it reportedly contains widget tools and emulators for Windows Mobile 6.5.3, an interim build said to add support for "touchable tiles" as well as enhanced gesture support, a revamped address book and updated start menu placement.
With the web buzzing about the SDK post, Microsoft on Monday issued the following statement: ""On Friday, January 22nd Microsoft prematurely posted a version of an upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 SDK to a public facing Web page. While the SDK was not announced or promoted, it was discovered and generated questions from the community. The beta SDK has since been removed and will be reposted once final testing has been conducted. We apologize for any inconvenience."
The WinMo 6.5 SDK snafu seems likely to fuel increased speculation over Microsoft's mobile roadmap and the long-promised release of Windows Mobile 7. While some sources report the software giant will formally announce the revamped OS during February's Mobile World Congress 2010 event in Barcelona, others indicate it is now delayed until 2011.
For more on the WinMo 6.5 SDK release:
- read this ZDNet article
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Microsoft adopting chassis strategy for Windows Mobile 7
Comments
Posted by Craig | January 26, 2010 - 4:41am
There's a lot of media speculation about Microsoft, but I think most of the developers have already abandoned Windows Mobile.
There's not much point developing for the current Windows Mobile, which is on its downhill run into oblivion.
WinMo 7, well, I'll wait and see. I don't think current apps will go well with it. It seems to be based around Silverlight. I don't think it will do well, as code commonality doesn't really help much between desktop Windows and Windows Mobile. A lot of interface work would still have to be done.
Some reports say that Microsoft will have a dual mobile OS strategy, keeping WinMo 6 while bringing in the new WinMo 7. Won't work. WinMo 6 will fade away anyway, like it's already doing. It will turn into a mono-OS strategy.
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