Can Handsets Make the Windows Phone Upgrade?

Microsoft has given the world its first glimpse of a smartphone running its forthcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system. The software kingpin demoed a prototype at a trade show, though the hardware specifications of the new OS suggest that owners of current Windows Mobile 6.x devices might not be able to make the upgrade.

Enterprise Mobile Today takes a look at the compatibility issues that could prevent users from upgrading to Windows Mobile 7.

Microsoft is citing “strict” hardware requirements as one reason why many — if not all — recently introduced Windows Mobile 6.5 devices may not be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7.

Meanwhile, the company demonstrated an early prototype of one of LG’s upcoming Windows Phone 7 Series handsets for a popular gadget site over the weekend.

LG is only one of several handset OEMs that have committed to producing 7 Series phones, the first of which are slated to debut in time for this year’s holiday sales season. Among the other device makers who have signed on board Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Series bandwagon are Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba.

The LG prototype is one of the first to be demonstrated. In the blog post on gadget site Engadget, a Microsoft official showed off a pre-production prototype.

However, the question in many phone users’ minds is whether recently introduced Windows Mobile 6.5 and other 6.x-based phones will be able to upgrade to the new 7 Series operating system. The answer is: maybe, maybe not.

Read the full story at Enterprise Mobile Today:


Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.x Phones Not All Upgradeable to 7