Orange Launches First Windows Mobile 6.0 Device

Orange Business Services launched the first Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0-powered smartphone on the UK market. Available exclusively from Orange until the beginning of May, the compact SPV E650 offers the ability to connect with Wi-Fi, EDGE and GPRS networks.

The Orange smartphone combines PDA capabilities with quad-band functionality. It conceals a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, making it easier than ever before to respond to emails . Talk time is rated at up to 5 hours, with a standby time of up to 7 days.

http://www.orange.co.uk

• Earlier this year at 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft unveiled Windows Mobile 6, the newest version of its mobile software platform. Key improvements include the ability to view e-mails in their original rich HTML format with live links to Web and SharePoint sites. Windows Mobile 6 includes Windows Live for Windows Mobile, which includes a set of Windows Live services, such as Windows Live Messenger. The newest version also includes mobile versions of Office Outlook, Office Word, Office Excel and Office PowerPoint.

  Microsoft said Windows Mobile 6 supports a variety of security options for businesses, including new Exchange Server policies and certificate options, storage card encryption, and continued support for remote and local device wipe. Windows Mobile 6 will also support Information Rights Management (IRM) technology to help control the viewing, storing and printing of confidential information on the mobile phone.

  Microsoft expects the first Windows Mobile 6 powered devices to be on the market by Q2. In Europe, Orange plans to deliver the SPV E650 smartphone from HTC.