Microsoft's upcoming Windows Mobile 6 operating system introduces evolutionary changes for users of smartphones and other wireless converged devices, but it is hardly revolutionary enough to justify a wholesale upgrade on existing handhelds.

Making a Robust Mobile OS Even Stronger

When Microsoft first began shipping Windows Mobile 5 in 2005, it marked a turning point in the firm's decade-long quest to establish its position in the mobile operating system market. The fifth generation of its mobile OS, which had previously been sold under the Windows CE and PocketPC brands, was a robust and enterprise-friendly offering. After years of false starts, Version 5 offered enterprises a relatively solid mix of rich application support, ease of development and end-to-end security.

Windows Mobile 5 has since cemented Microsoft's position in the mobile space and has helped Microsoft carve out its place in a enterprise mobile OS market formerly dominated almost exclusively by Palm, Research In Motion...