Over a year old, we were expecting an up gradation of the Windows Mobile 5.0 OS and it was expected that Crossbow, code name for Windows Mobile 6.0 would be available in the first half of 2007. Mobile-review has cleared the picture as it has got hold of a copy on the OS and has removed all the suspense associated with it.

This new edition has certainly not impressed the people out there and it would be better to call it Windows Mobile 5.0 Second Edition rather than Windows Mobile 6.0. New features seem to be missing altogether and it looks that only touch up has been given. You will be happy to know that some major changes have been done with regard to VoIP and now there is bundled support for VoIP which we can already see in devices such as Nokia E series.

Given below are some of the 'major' changes in Windows Mobile 6.0

• Revamped outlook, refined icons • Totally re-mastered sound theme • Increased interface speed; • Bundled IP-telephony (VoIP, SIP standard); • Smart Dial 2.0, fast search through contacts, call history; removable on-screen virtual keyboard; • Any tune can be assigned to any event; • Support for shortcuts in Outlook Mobile; • Full-fledged meetings arrangement system; • Support for HTML in messages; • Smart Filter - handy and fast search through messages; • Numerous MS Exchange 2007-tailored changes; • Integration with Windows Live online-services; • Marketplace - purchase, download, and install directly from the device; • Encryption - bundled memory card encryption

It seems that Microsoft has just done a gap filling job. I believe that we would all have to wait for Photon in 2008 to expect some visible developments in mobile operating system of Microsoft.