Pocket PC Central News Center

BGR is reporting that the long awaited T-Mobile Shadow II will be released on January 28, 2009.  This Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard Smartphone has been listed as “upcoming” for months.

The FCC approved the Shadow 2 earlier this month.  The smartphone will replace the current T-Mobile Shadow and will be the first non-touchscreen Windows Mobile phone to be released in some time.  Features are expected to include UMA Wi-Fi call support, a 2MP digital camera, a 2.6-inch QVGA display, and a microSD flash memory card slot (with assumed SDHC support).

Expected price with two-year service agreement: $99-$149.

More details as they are made available.

Rumors about the so-called Zune Phone are legendary, and in recent weeks the rumor mill has been working overtime. 

Until a few days ago, many were certain that a new Microsoft-branded Zune smartphone would make its first appearance at CES 2009, but last week when Microsoft’s Brian Seitz announced that there would be “No Zune phone at CES” that line of thought was quashed.

What does not seem to have been quashed, however, is the idea that the Zune and Windows Mobile universes will soon begin to collide, no Zune Phone required. The narrative forming now is that Zune services for Windows Mobile are coming down the pike, a development known as “Project Pink” or “Zune Mobile.”

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A few days ago, we told you that Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, had let slip about an upcoming refresh version of the company’s mobile OS, Windows Mobile 6.5.  At that time, we had no further details on the next version of Windows Mobile before version 7 which is due in late 2009 or 2010.

But now SmartphoneFrance.info, a French mobile technology web site, has posted screenshots of what it claims to be Windows Mobile 6.5.  We remain skeptical, but the shots are interesting if for no other reason that they look a little Zune-ish.

Windows Mobile is in desperate need of a makeover, and while there are many directions in which Microsoft could move to make the OS more finger-friendly, a move away from drop-down menus and toward a smooth, scrolling Zune-like interface would certainly be a welcome one.

via WMpoweruser

According to PhoneArena, Verizon Wireless has big Windows Mobile plans for the month of November, a month in which the wireless carrier plans to release three new WinMo handsets. 

PhoneArena and various other sources are reporting that Verizon will add its own CDMA versions of the Samsung Omnia and HTC Touch Pro (XV6850) to its lineup, as well as the Samsung SCH-i770 Saga, which appears, at least for now, to be a Verizon exclusive

As more information becomes available, it will be posted to the News Center.  Verizon has yet to confirm the November release dates, but it’s fairly certain we’ll see each of these smartphones in Verizon stores before the 2008 holiday season.

The new Palm Treo Pro is sold exclusively as a GSM/GPRS unlocked handset and, as far as anyone could tell, 1) that was the way it was going to stay or 2) the Treo Pro might show up at some point bearing an AT&T or T-Mobile logo.

But now, WMExperts has uncovered speed test results which show a device labeled as the “Sprint Treo850e,” and there’s speculation this could be a CDMA version of the Treo Pro operating on the Sprint wireless network.

Now, this is by no means definitive data (and barely data at all, for that matter), but it is certainly worth noting.  Could Palm be working on a Sprint version of the Treo Pro for release later this year? 

Only time will tell.

Engadget Mobile has posted an image of what it believes to be a new Windows Mobile Professional Smartphone from LG called the Incite.  The ‘Net has been buzzing about a new WinMo handset from LG for a couple of days, and the folks at Engadget seem to believe this image is the real deal.

Some features of the touchscreen Incite may include a 3MP digital camera, aGPS, Wi-Fi, HSDPA mobile broadband, and a largely metal shell.  The Incite would run Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. 

It has been thought that the LG Incite would be headed to AT&T Mobility, speculation which seems to be buttressed by the posted image.

The numbers ‘i770’ have been swirling around Samsung since the ill-fated SGH-i770 clamshell touchscreen Windows Mobile phone was first discussed in 2006.  In 2008, our ‘i770’ curiosity has been aimed at the SCH-i770, which is thought to be a replacement for the current i760, and it now appears that the SCH-i770 is nearing release.

New information on the SCH-i770 has been posted on several tech blogs, and most recent posting include photos. 

Although the i770 was supposed to be released in Q3, which has clearly come and gone, we are now getting word that Verizon Wireless will release the handset by the end of the year.

We first told you about the iPAQ Oak and iPAQ Silver in January.  Now, for the first time since information regarding these handhelds was leaked, we’re beginning to hear more about these upcoming Windows Mobile smartphones from HP.

A recent story in the Wall Street Journal states that HP plans to release the Oak later this year in Europe with a broader release to follow.  Engadget is also reporting that the iPAQ Silver is beginning to show up here and there around the globe.

The two devices are close siblings, with similar designs and features – but, while the Silver (right) is a non-touchscreen device with a SureType style keypad-keyboard combo, the Oak (left) is a full featured Pro Smartphone with a touchscreen interface and a slide-to-hide QWERTY keyboard and an on-face keypad.

We’ll post more information as it becomes available.

A couple of weeks ago, we told you that the Samsung Omnia may be coming to AT&T Mobility as the AT&T Mirage.  New information posted at PhoneArena, however, suggests that Mirage may be the code name for the Samsung SGH-i788, the so-called BlackJack III.  The post goes on to say that the new Samsung may be sold as the i907.  At this point, we’re going with this new information, as it seems more credible, but all information regarding this device should be treated as rumor until we get some hard information. 

Samsung’s Omnia is likely still on its way to AT&T, so we’ll keep you posted as new information arises.

If true, this is a disappointing development in the world of Windows Mobile. According to a blog at CNet, Microsoft is quietly telling some of its partners not to expect the final version of Windows Mobile 7 until the second half of 2009. 

This schedule isn’t exactly a delay, as Microsoft has never provided a firm date for delivery of WinMo7, but many analysts expected the new OS to ship in early 2009.

Windows Mobile 7 is expected to be a major update to Microsoft’s mobile OS, with gesture recognition, more touch-friendly interaction, and sweeping improvements to the the UI.  These changes are very much needed in light of increasing competition from RIM, Apple and Google’s Android.

BGR is reporting that Palm plans to offer its Treo Pro Windows Mobile handset through an American wireless carrier.  Since, BGR suggests, Palm has no relationship with T-Mobile, that leaves AT&T Mobility.

This is unconfirmed information, so take it for what it’s worth.  But such a move would certainly prove beneficial for Palm, who currently plans to offer the Palm Treo Pro as a direct-sell, unlocked handset.

Recent Internet reports regarding the future of Firefox Mobile (seen here and here) assert that Mozilla will be holding off on the launch of Firefox Mobile until sometime in 2010.  This seemed a bit odd to us, so we went digging.

Although these reports state that 2010 will be the release year for the mobile version of the Firefox web browser, the reference material the reports cite simply suggest that the goal of the organization is to have a mobile version of Firefox by 2010. 

It seems strange that users would have to wait a year and a half to two years for this software long planned.  We hope it’s not anywhere near that long.

The Samsung Omnia is one of the most anticipated Windows Mobile handhelds of 2008, and now we’re getting new information about the device’s first official U.S. availability. According to Engadget, the Omnia SGH-i907 will debut on AT&T Mobility next month as the AT&T Mirage.

It’s unclear how many changes will be made to the U.S. version of the Omnia, but as more information becomes available, we’ll let you know.

We’ve known for a few months that Palm had another Windows Mobile Treo in the works; today, we know a good bit more than that.  Images and information regarding the upcoming Treo Pro briefly appeared on the Palm.com web site.  The content was pulled shortly thereafter, but not before some eager Treo fans were able to grab some slides from a presentation and run.

The Treo Pro will be, at least in one incarnation, a GSM handset with HSDPA/UMTS compatibility.  Other features include Wi-Fi, GPS and microSD expansion.  No word yet on price or availability.

Click here for additional photos.

Last week we passed on information about the Motorola Alexander, a device made known to the world by the BoyGeniusReport.  Now, that same site has let another cat out of the bag: the Motorola Atila, a version of the Alexander without the sliding QWERTY keyboard.

Features are fairly high end with HSDPA and HSUPA mobile broadband, Wi-Fi 802.11g, a Qualcomm 7201A mobile processor and Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro.  No word on other specs, price or availability just yet.