PhoneTalk

Windows Mobile Phone 6.x will no longer have access to its dedicated marketplace. The store is closing today. Users will still be able to use the apps they have already installed on existing phones, however, if a “hard reset” (basically, this is returning the phone back to factory settings) is performed the apps will also be wiped from the Windows Mobile Phone and users will have no access to them. While the store is closing, some of those apps may still be available from the app developers or third-party stores.

The new Windows Phone Marketplace, which offers apps for Windows Phone 7 and later models, is still open and users of Windows Phone should check that our for new apps in the future. More information on the shutdown can be found in this story from Fierce Mobile Content.

Following the unveiling of Windows Phone 7, T-Mobile announced it would be offering the HTC HD7 Windows Phone 7. In addition to running the new Microsoft mobile OS, it's also designed for entertainment with a 4.3-inch display that can be used to watch TV shows and movies streaming over Netflix, play Xbox Live games, and access even more media via Zune. Additionally, the cell phone will offer access to Slacker Radio and T-Mobile TV for watching live and on-demand shows from networks such as ABC News NOW, FOX Sports, and PBS Kids. The HTC HD7 will also have a 1GHz processor, 16GB of internal memory, a 5-megapixel camera with the ability to record HD video. If you liked the HD2, which runs the latest version of Windows Mobile (not Windows Phone 7 and the HD2 will not be updated to Windows Phone 7), then the HD7 might be right up your alley if you want a new phone with the new Microsoft Mobile OS.

Microsoft took the lid off Windows Phone 7 at a press conference yesterday to show off the new phone OS and its tag line, "Always delightful, wonderfully mine." The new operating system is a huge departure from what people typically think of when they think about a Windows cell phone. It offers tons of customization, an intuitive onscreen QWERTY keyboard that auto corrects words or lets you revert to the original word typed, integration with Xbox Live (including the ability to edit and create avatars), voice search using Bing, and an overall more fluid user experience. There will also be an update coming in early 2011 that will allow you to cut and paste.

AT&T, the company that launched the first Windows Mobile phone back in 2003, announced that on November 8th it would be offering the Samsung Focus Windows Phone 7. A few weeks later, two more models the LG Quantum and HTC Surround (complete with a kickstand and surround sound speakers) will be available. The three cell phones will have a 1GHz processor and tons of on-board storage (Quantum and Surround will have 16GB of on board memory, while the Focus will have 8GBs of onboard memory). However, Microsoft talked a lot about the "cloud" so you'll have access to tons of content (pictures, music, and movies) that doesn't need to reside on the phone.

Microsoft announced a total of 9 (Read more)

Verizon announced a new Windows Mobile phone aimed at global business travelers, the LG Fathom. This smartphone has all the specs expected from a cell phone running Windows Mobile 6.5 plus a few extra. Of note, the LG Fathom supports Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) for more secure connections, has a 1GHz processor, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a spacious 3.2-inch touchscreen that offers tactile feedback. Since this is a world phone, the LG Fathom can be used for turn-by-turn directions and maps in English in more than 20 destinations such as Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In case you'll be in need of restaurants, gas stations or nearby ATMs, the app will offer that information as well. However, there's one feature that seems to be a bit lacking; the microSD slot will only support up to a 16GB microSD card while many other smartphones currently available support up to a 32GB microSD card. Still, that said, it should be plenty for most users.

The cell phone will be available for consumers starting June 3rd and will require both a Nationwide Talk plan and an Email and Web for Smartphone plan.

That's it for our CTIA show coverage from Las Vegas. There were a lot of noteworthy announcements at the show and it looks like Google's Android future is only getting brighter with the Samsung Galaxy S and the HTC EVO 4G. That wasn't the only news at the show, check out this wrap-up for more.

Finally, I must give a special shout-out to the Sprint Overdrive 4G Hotspot. I typically take a cell phone with me to the show to test, but this year I took the Overdrive since Las Vegas is a 4G Sprint market and let me just say this thing flies. I was able to upload a 60MB video in less that 10 minutes over the 4G Sprint network. Even when it downgraded to 3G still that was plenty fast enough to surf the web, but I'm a big fan of the 4G coverage. When the service is all over the country it will definitely change the way we use cell phones, but for now it makes posting coverage from CTIA infinitely faster.

The HTC HD2 Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone has a lot going for it. Besides the HTC Sense overlay and gorgeous display this business centric phone has big entertainment options. I sat down with T-Mobile's Director of Product Innovation Sajal Sahay to get the scoop. Watch the video to see what sets this smartphone apart from others currently available.

Earlier this year, T-Mobile announced it would be offering the HTC HD2 and now we're finally getting to see the Windows Mobile 6.5 cell phone in action. It has a 5-megapixel camera, 1GHz SnapDragon processor, a large crisp display for easily viewing movies, and a slim form factor. The HTC HD2 is coming soon, click this link to sign up for more information. In the meantime, check out the video by LetsTalk's Scott Price to get a sneak peak at the HTC HD2.

Want to know what comes with the latest Omnia II Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone for Verizon? Watch the video below featuring LetsTalk's Scott Price. Does it have everything you want?

We knew it was coming, the next version of Windows Mobile and it has been announced at Mobile World Congress and it even has a new name. The latest version is Windows Phone 7 Series. Not the catchiest of names, but the new name makes you think that perhaps the latest version of the mobile operating system (OS) is a little more user friendly. Windows Mobile 6.5 had some tweaks that made the OS a bit more consumer friendly and not so business centric. Indeed Windows Phone 7 Series seems to do quite a bit to make the Windows Mobile smartphone a bit more fun to use. In the new OS there will be better integration with social networking sites - a feature we've seen in a lot of smartphones and even cell phones. There will also be the ability to view an entire library of pictures and videos from the phone. Of course, there will still be mobile outlook e-mail and mobile versions of other Microsoft Productivity apps.

However, the real fun comes with the integration of Xbox LIVE games and Zune music and video features. Not only will you be able to play Xbox LIVE games on the Windows Phone 7 Series, but you'll also be able to see a gamer’s avatar, Achievements and gamer profile. Many of the features of Zune music player are part of the OS, so Windows Phone 7 Series will have a much more robust music and video player. All of this sounds a lot more user friendly to me, however, don't get too excited, yet. We likely will not see any smartphones running the OS until the holidays later this year. To see a demo of the new OS, watch the video below.

If you are really hard on cell phones, you might consider one that's basically indestructible, the i-mate. While not the most attractive smartphone I've seen, it's probably the most durable. This GSM unlocked cell phone runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and will run you about $700. That is a lot, but it does come with a lifetime warranty. If you can destroy it, they'll replace it. The i-mate can really stand up to the elements. So much so I saw a video of it being run over by a car and it still worked. At the show, the cell phone was immersed in a bowl of water and worked just fine. Don't believe us? Check out the picture below.

Today, AT&T announced that it will be adding Google's Android smartphones to its line-up. Among those mentioned were a Dell Mini 3 (this will be the first Dell smartphone to launch in the United States), a Motorola model running Blur, and a model from HTC. AT&T said it would be introducing 5 models this year. Additionally, the company said it would be offering two Palm Web OS smartphones in the first half of the year.

Speaking of smartphones let's not forget that it's applications that seem to interest users and just about every smartphone OS has its own app store. To help support that AT&T will be loading the corresponding app store on each smartphone making it easier to download apps.

We'll have more information on the cell phones mentioned at the AT&T press conference in our on-going CES coverage. In the meantime, below is the Dell Mini 3.