O2 embraces Microsoft Windows Mobile 6

O2 has already completed its testing of the Arabic version of Windows Mobile 6 on the Xda Zinc and Xda Atom Life. Starting September 6th, users of this multimedia powerhouse can download Windows Mobile 6 Professional ROM with Arabic language pack from O2's portal, SeeO2.com, free of charge. Existing customers of Xda Atom Life or Xda Zinc can get their devices upgraded at the local O2-authorised collection point if they prefer. O2 will honour prevailing warranty terms and conditions if the upgrade is performed via the above authorised channels.

"With the bundling of Windows Mobile 6 on the Xda Atom Life and Xda Zinc, the best just got better," said Mark Billington, CEO, O2 Asia Pacific & Middle East. "The improved search, better security, support for instant messaging and email and an enhanced Microsoft Office experience that come with Windows Mobile 6 will help both devices serve the customers even better than they already have."

The Xda Atom Life is the fastest PDA-phone running on the Windows Mobile platform. This 3.5G-enabled HSDPA lifestyle PDA-phone packs a punch with a range of productivity and entertainment features, including 1GB ROM memory, FM radio and a 624Hz processor, making it the fastest PDA-phone available.

The Xda Zinc, on the other hand, is built for productivity. It offers enhanced efficiency and ease of messaging with a slide-out Qwerty keyboard, 520MHz Intel processor, built-in Wireless LAN, and unique applications like O2 Phone Plus and O2 Message Plus to delight communication enthusiasts.

"O2 carries out a stringent testing process to ensure that all software incorporated into our devices work efficiently and effectively. This is to prevent possible software faults and integration issues," explained Nils Wallnas, VP Product Planning & Management, O2 AP & ME. "We need to ensure that the special applications that O2 has developed for an improved user experience, like O2 SMS Plus and O2 MediaPlus, work seamlessly on the new operating system."

Delivering great performance and value
With a host of new features and enhancements, Windows Mobile 6 provides increased value for customers in key areas including messaging and collaboration, infrastructure interoperability, security features and platform development.

Windows Mobile 6 delivers the ability to view email in their original rich HTML format with live links to Web and SharePoint® sites. This means text and images are displayed as they would be on a PC, and available from a corporate email server, such as Exchange Server 2007, from Web-based accounts like Windows Live™ Hotmail or other popular service providers. Windows Mobile 6 also includes Windows Live for Windows Mobile, which provides customers with a rich set of Windows Live services. Hotmail users can now have push email as well as chat with more than one person at one time, express themselves through animated figures, quickly send a file or image, or record and send voice notes through Windows Live Messenger.

This platform also offers the most genuine Microsoft Office system experience in mobile versions of Office Outlook®, Office Word, Office Excel® and Office PowerPoint® by bringing capabilities once available only on the PC versions of these products to the small screen. This allows users to neatly view, navigate and edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets in their original formatting, and to view presentations on their mobile device.

All Windows Mobile 6-powered devices include Direct Push Technology for up-to-date email delivery and automatic synchronisation of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server, as well as a set of important device security and management features.

"O2's aim is to embrace technology innovation that enhances the user experience, whether hardware or software," said Billington. "Windows Mobile 6 promises to offer significant benefits including improved ease of use and greater productivity for our customers."