This particular time, Microsoft is announcing that Windows Mobile 7 will make its grand official appearance at the MIX 2010 conference in March 2010. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to the most eager of WM7 fans, as the new OS was rumored to be announced in Q1, with a Q3 launch.

Complete with the confirmation of the announcement, Microsoft also gave us a sneak peek at a screenshot of Office 2010 for WinMo.

Turns out it was Microsoft Office Vice President Kurt Delbene that let the cat out of the bag. It was a little odd that the VP in charge of Office is speaking in behalf of WinMo, but we just assume they’re a pretty tight-knit bunch.

via Neowin via WMPowerUser

• Nokia, Microsoft sign deal to bring Office Mobile to Symbian smartphones
• Microsoft to limit number of Windows Mobile devices on the way to announcing something major at MWC 2009
• Quickoffice launches MobileFiles Pro, the first editable office app for iPhone
• Vodafone announces Microsoft Online Services with voice and data
• Nokia, Microsoft to announce alliance tomorrow, possibly related to MS Office

Similar in look and feel to Opera 10 for desktop and Opera Mini 5 beta, Opera Mini 10 for Windows Mobile comes with many new features that should provide a desktop-like browsing experience.

Opera Mini 10 beta for WM has a new interface, tabbed browsing, Speed Dial, password manager, pan and zoom, and Opera Turbo (for offloading your page renderings to Opera’s servers). The new Opera Mini is also compatible with Windows Mobile touchscreen phones.

Opera Mobile 10 beta for Windows Mobile is free and can be downloaded to your phone via m.opera.com/mobile, or here if you want to download it through your PC.

Via Press release

• Opera Mini 5 beta launched, available for download
• Opera Mobile 9.7 beta announced and available for download
• Opera Mobile 10 launched for Symbian S60 (touch and non-touch)
• Opera Mini 5 coming really soon to a phone near you
• Opera Mini 4.2 beta released for 20 million users worldwide

Other 20 countries will follow shortly, including countries in the Middle East (weird enough, Europe is not mentioned at all).

The GW550 is a 12mm thin handset that features GSM and HSDPA connectivity, a 2.4 inch QVGA display, full QWERTY keypad, A-GPS, Wi-Fi, push email, 3.2MP camera and MicroSD card support.

LG didn’t announce the price of GW550 – it will probably depend on the country you buy it from anyway.

Via Press release (in Korean)

• RIM, Nextel to launch the BlackBerry Curve 8350i in Latin America
• INQ Chat 3G and Mini 3G – Twitter phones with iTunes syncing
• Samsung i617T released in Australia: Telstra’s own BlackJack II
• Pantech Reveal now available at AT&T, $80 on contract
• Email friendly Nokia E75 starts shipping

With a contract agreement for two years and a monthly plan of at least £35 ($58), the HTC HD2 is free. You can get it for free with an 18-month contract too, but only with monthly plans of at least £40.

The new Windows Mobile 6.5 handset is available online here.

Vodafone UK doesn’t offer the HD2 on Pay As You Go for now, and there’s no word if it ever will.

O2 and T-Mobile will probably launch the HTC HD2 in the UK as well, but the exact release dates are not known at the moment.

Via Pocket-lint

• Samsung Jet S8000 already available in the UK, free on select Vodafone plans
• Nokia N900 to hit the UK on Nov. 16, free on select contracts
• Virgin Media launches mobile broadband service in UK for less than $30 a month
• Palm Pre officially coming to O2 UK on October 16
• Virgin Mobile UK offers Windows Live Messenger for free

From now on, Windows Mobile 6.5 users will be able to buy applications not only via their phones, but also from their desktop PCs, by visiting the Windows Marketplace for Mobile website.

The changes concerning the improved anti-piracy protection “will be transparent for customers”, but app developers should benefit from them – this PDF provides more info.

As for support for Windows Mobile 6.1 and 6.0, this should come later this month.

Via the Windows Mobile Developer Blog

• Windows Marketplace Will be 6.1-Bound in November
• Windows Marketplace opens for submissions on July 27; WM 6.0 and 6.1 will be supported
• Microsoft announces Windows Marketplace details
• Windows Mobile 7 to come with app marketplace called “Skymarket”
• Internet Explorer Mobile 6 coming soon, features announced

Already available in some markets around the world, the Garmin-Asus nuvifone M20 with WM 6.5 will be launched by the end of 2009 in the following countries: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Turkey Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic and so on.

Starting today (November 11), users who bought the M20 with Windows Mobile 6.1 can upgrade it to WM 6.5 on Garmin-Asus’ website.

Apart from Windows Mobile 6.5, the features of M20 include a VGA touchscreen display, HSDPA, GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and a 3.2MP camera.

Via Engadget

• AT&T getting the Garmin Asus Nuvifone M20 too?
• Asus P565 pulled off the shelves after the alliance with Garmin?
• Garmin Asus Nuvifone M20 comes with Opera Mobile 9.5 preinstalled
• Garmin-Asus unveils the nüvifone M20 Windows Mobile smartphone
• Garmin-Asus Nuvifone G60 and M20 available for pre-order in Poland

According to HMC Investment Securities, Samsung intends to stop making Symbian handsets starting 2011, and reduce the number of WM devices to 20% (from the total number of smartphones) in 2012.

Next year, the South Korean company plans to launch about 10 Android devices (30% of its total number of smartphones), and several devices based on its own smartphone OS. In 2012, 50% of Samsung’s smartphones may run on its own OS.

Samsung reducing the number of WM phones may not be a surprise, but the fact that the company will no longer make Symbian devices is. After all, Samsung is among the Symbian Foundation’s founding members. But I guess that the HMC report might be wrong. We’ll see.

Via Telecoms Korea

• Samsung almost confirms an Android smartphone for the first half of this year
• Samsung’s first Android phone to come in Q3 2009
• Samsung to increase phone sales by 20% in 2010 (to 270 million units)
• Samsung confirms its Linux-based smartphone OS
• Android and Symbian smartphones to come from Huawei in 2009

To be honest, we weren’t expecting to see the Jack to be one of the first 6.1 phones pushed through to 6.5 by its manufacturer. Nothing against the Jack at all; it’s just running Standard since there is no touchscreen capability.

So what does the Jack and any other WM 6.5 Standard phone get? Improved Internet Explorer, full access to Windows Marketplace, and free access to AT&T WiFi hotspots.

Woohoo? Anyone excited about this one?

In order to download the upgrade, check out Samsung’s official place to do so.

• More details on Windows Mobile Marketplace’s Phase 2
• Samsung Jack i637 officially announced by AT&T
• Microsoft is negotiating carrier-branded versions of Windows Marketplace
• Windows Marketplace opens for submissions on July 27; WM 6.0 and 6.1 will be supported
• AT&T finally offers free Wi-Fi for all iPhone users

Moreover, HTC and Microsoft have also unveiled that the HD2 would be available in the US in early 2010, offered by a “major carrier”. Verizon? AT&T? T-Mobile maybe? We’ll see.

Previously known as HTC Leo, the HTC HD2 was officially announced at the beginning of October. Its features include Windows Mobile 6.5, a 4.3 inch WVGA touchscreen display, HTC Sense, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, 3.5mm headset jack and a 5MP camera with autofocus.

The exact price of HTC DH2 is not known, but it should be around €500 ($738).

Via Press release

• LG GM750 with Windows Mobile 6.5 announced by Vodafone
• HTC HD2 (Leo) made official by O2, sort of
• HTC makes the HD2 (Leo) official
• More details on HTC Whitestone, Firestone, Thoth and others
• Samsung Armani B7620 goes to Germany in November, costs €729

The Omnia II was designated the Official Mobile Device of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games (held in Vancouver between 12 and 28 February next year), and Bell will offer it with exclusive 2010 Winter Games content.

Customers who buy the Samsung Omnia II from Bell will be able to download the Wireless Olympic Works communications platform (aka WOW), which is offered for free and provides real-time information about the Olympic Winter Games.

Already available in many markets around the world (like China and Australia), Samsung Omnia II features Windows Mobile 6.5, a 3.7 inches WVGA AMOLED touchscreen display, TouchWiz 2.0 UI, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, 5MP autofocus camera, and up to 48GB of storage space.

Bell didn’t announce the price of its Omnia II.

Via Press release

• WiTu AMOLED and OmniaIcon – Samsung Omnia II’s names for Russia and Australia
• Samsung Omnia 2 i8000 reaches new markets, Australia and China included
• Samsung Omnia II i8180 headed to China Mobile
• Verizon’s Omnia II appears on Samsung’s website
• Samsung Omnia II i920 for Verizon gets pictured

At first Sanjay mentioned the number of new smartphones would be in “multiple tens”, before clarifying that at least 20 would be released.

This seems to be a rather good indication that Motorola is back on the right track, and is ready to pull some hefty competition on everyone else.

So here’s the thing: given Motorola’s dumping of virtually every OS but Android, we’re wondering how many of these 20+ smartphones will be Android and how many will be WinMo. We know Moto isn’t interested in 6.5 but most likely is waiting for 7 to come out; will it be a 50/50 split between WM7 and Android?

As you know, I love to speculate and ask questions. Only time will be able to answer those questions, but my hope is to spark conversation in our comments about this. My brain tells me it’s too soon for Motorola to make such a large commitment before posting some good quarterly numbers, but it shows that Moto is very confident in its future, and that should be applauded.

via Gearlog

• Motorola Devour Arrives at the Party, Puts on Nametag
• HTC Confirms its Involvement With Android 2.0
• Motorola to ditch Symbian, bet on Android and outsource WinMo phone production
• Motorola Android phone confirmed for Verizon for Q4 2009?
• GSM Motorola Droid caught on video

Peter Chou conducted an interview with Forbes yesterday and talked about quite a few aspects of the smartphone industry. But what was most interesting to us was his declaration:

Technically, we could make the HD2 an Android phone, but I have to take care of Windows Mobile.

Blammo. Just like that, all hope has been lost. Or has it?

I personally got a couple things from that nugget. He mentioned the HD2 specifically won’t be an Android phone. There will only be one flavor of HD2, and that’s Windows Mobile. But the rumor I mentioned specifically about the HTC Passion, was supposed to be an “equivalent” of the HD2; not actually the HD2 itself.

So my opinion is that the HTC Passion could be very real still, and could easily be on its way to Verizon. Technically it’s not the HD2, just a heck of a lot like it.

I also found it interesting when he said “I have to take care of Windows Mobile”, as if he were in The Godfather. As if he owes Microsoft something. This statement hints at some sort of mandatory contract or agreement HTC has with Microsoft to carry a certain number or percentage of Windows phones in a given year. I wonder if there’s any validity to that.

Thoughts? Feel free to call me out if there are flaws in my logic.

via Forbes

• Rumored HTC Passion Coming to Verizon, is a HD2 With Android?
• Microsoft to limit number of Windows Mobile devices on the way to announcing something major at MWC 2009
• Nokia N73 Godfather Edition comes out
• Windows Mobile 7 will feature Social Networking integration
• T-Mobile moving from WM to Android worldwide?

Well, the third largest US carrier prepares even more surprises for 2010.

According to GearLog, Sprint executive David Owens has just unveiled some of the carrier’s plans for next year.

Reportedly, Sprint plans to launch WiMax phones, plus lots of HTC and BlackBerry smartphones in 2010 – with the mention that the HTC ones will run Android and some BlackBerries will feature Wi-Fi.

Speaking of Android, Sprint says that handsets using Google’s OS “will get less expensive” as soon as more such handsets are released. Next year, the carrier might launch hybrid CDMA/GSM Android phones, and even an “Android phone with a built-in MiFi-type router.”

Sprint has also confirmed that Android updates will come to Samsung Moment and HTC Hero, although it’s not clear yet if we’re talking about Android 2.0.

Despite all this Android talk, Sprint hasn’t forgotten about Windows Mobile. WM 6.5 updates should come in early 2010 to the HTC Touch Pro2 and other WM phones. Moreover, Sprint is eagerly waiting for Windows Mobile 7 devices, although their release obviously depends on Microsoft.

• Android Devices Being Brought in Q4
• HTC Hero with Android to be exclusively sold by Orange
• Andy Rubin says Google won’t make an Android phone of its own
• Sprint to launch WM 6.5 Samsung Intrepid (Ace II), Samsung Moment
• First Samsung Android smartphone to come in June; other two handsets promised for the US

This particular update will be available for the Touch Diamond2, and not for just one carrier; it looks like it will be for most European countries.

For reference, here are the version numbers for each specific country.

                      Germany 2.16.407.1

                      Denmark 2.16.403.1

                      United Kingdom 2.16.405.4

                      Sweden 2.16.413.1

                      Norway 2.16.409.1

                      Portugal 2.16.410.1

HTC’s website has all the download details, but here are some words of warning before you perform the upgrade:

* Please note that this upgrade will erase any data stored on the device. Once you proceed with the upgrade, the system can not be downgraded again. 

* Please back up your data first before upgrading your device. Before you run the ROM Upgrade Utility (RUU), make sure you check and do the following:

* The USB sync cable is connected to your device and PC. If your PC is running Windows XP®, ActiveSync® will run automatically to establish a connection. If your PC is running Windows Vista™, then Windows Mobile Device Center will establish the connection between your device and PC.

* All running applications on the device have been closed.

* Make sure that the battery level of the device is at least 50%. To check, tap Start > Settings > System tab > Power.

* The update will take up to 30 minutes, DO NOT interrupt the update process, make/receive phone calls, disconnect the device from the PC, or press any buttons until the process has been completed.

Sidenote: Australia’s Telstra has also updated their HTC Snap to WinMo 6.5. Go here to get the download.

via WMExperts

• Windows Mobile 6.5 is now complete, “looks really good”
• Vodafone Updates Touch Pro2 to WinMo 6.5
• Windows Mobile 6.5 and MyPhone video demo and pics
• OTA software updates for Windows Mobile to come soon?
• Microsoft Gaming System for your Zune, Xbox, PC and PDA

What you’ll need to do to download 6.5 on your Touch Pro2 is follow this link leading you to a download site with some instructions on how to properly update it without losing information and totally screwing up your phone.

Also nice to know is that if you’re too concerned about updating it on your own and messing it up, just simply take it into a local store and they will update it for you.

The instructions are:

• You need a broadband connection.
• We recommend that you backup all important content – contacts, photos, ringtones, games etc – stored on your phone before you start.
• You’ll need your phone’s USB cable. If you don’t have one you can buy one from your local Vodafone store.
• You’ll also have to download an application to your PC.
• Make sure your battery level is at least 50%, if not higher.

On the site is a PDF file that may include a couple other friendly reminders. We recommend being as thorough and prepared as possible when making such an important update.

Let us know how it works out!

via Vodafone

• Verizon updates firmware on BlackBerry Storm
• Sony Ericsson PlayNow Kiosk launched for Pacific Asia
• Verizon Mobile Web Games and Apps Store launched
• Nokia Ovi Store launched in Australia, Singapore, Ireland and Spain
• 1GB USIM chip announced by KTF in Korea

We have a pretty good feeling that the guys and gals over at Engadget had a great day, if nothing else than for the fact they interviewed Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and got some useful tidbits from him besides the usual CEO-speak. And now all of the blogs are abuzz about it.

In the 40-minute interview, Ballmer revealed that the next version of Windows Mobile will feature Zune integration. We’re not sure if “next version” means 6.5.1, or WinMo 7 (I’m guessing the latter, considering the leaked screenshots of 7 being shown below).

Really, this just confirms the rumors floating around that Microsoft had a Zune phone in the works; integrating it into Windows Mobile actually makes quite a bit of sense.

We also don’t know any more details besides what has been quoted by Ballmer, so we’re not sure if Zune will completely take over all multimedia functions, or if there will be some sort of sharing with WMP. Frankly, I’d be totally fine seeing WMP gone for good.

via Engadget

• Windows Mobile 7 to come with Zune?
• First Windows Mobile 6.5 images surface
• Microsoft picks on Android and Symbian; Windows Mobile not going the open source way
• Steve Ballmer: Windows Mobile 7 will come in 2010
• Steve Ballmer: Windows Mobile 6.5 will come next year

Samsung will offer up to $330,000 in prize money. Two top winners will receive $100,000 in cash, each. There will also be smaller prizes: $10,000, $5,000 and $2,000.

All winning applications will be distributed via the Samsung Application Store.

To enter the competition, you must be registered to sell paid apps at the Samsung Application Store Seller Office.

The competition will be open until December 10. For addition information, visit the Samsung seller website.

Via NewsWire

• The Vodafone App Star competition – €100,000 for the best 360 widgets
• Samsung Application Store for smartphones coming on September 14
• Samsung Innovation Quest 2009 debuts, asks you to develop widgets for the Omnia HD
• Samsung launching app store at MWC 2009
• LG Application Store launched in Asia, only for Windows Mobile

Anyway, the FCC has published an X2 User Guide, which teaches you how to switch between Xperia panels, use the 8.1MP autofocus camera, and other things like that. The User Guide can be seen here (PDF file).

Part of the new line up of Windows Mobile 6.5 phones, Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 features a 3.2 inch WVGA touchscreen display, full QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad, A-GPS, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm headset jack and so on.

There’s no word yet if any of the US carriers will sell the Xperia X2.

• Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 to be launched by 3 on November for £30/month?
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 vs. Xperia X1 in live pictures
• Leaked: Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 blueprints
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 picture shows up, might be the real deal
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 previewed; might cost €599

WMExperts has an image that seems to compare Windows Mobile 6.5 with Windows Mobile 7.

The bottom row in the photo below is “roughly” showing what WM7 will look like, and it’s easy to see that the new OS obviously looks much better than WM 6.5.

As you can see, there’s no start button in WM 7, and everything’s optimized for a finger-friendly touchscreen experience:

More comparative images (including contacts, email and messages) were posted over at PocketNow:

Well, until Windows Mobile 7 is ready, WM fans can check out those new Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones, including the HTC Touch HD2.

• Windows Mobile 6.5 and MyPhone video demo and pics
• Windows Mobile 6.5 Build 23022 demoed on video
• Audio Notes Touch for Windows Mobile
• Windows Mobile 6.5 is now complete, “looks really good”
• Samsung P520 with VibeTonz haptics. Live pics and video

The phone, called Samsung i8180 Chai or Samsung i8180c, seems to have most of the features you’ll find in the i8000, including Windows Mobile and a 3.7 inch AMOLED touchscreen display.

However, the i8180 has China-specific features as well, like WAPI, TD-SCDMA connectivity and CMMB (China Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting).

The Samsung i8180 / i8180c looks really nice, as you can see in the photos below:

At the moment, the release date of Samsung i8180 is not known, but the smartphone will probably hit the Chinese market in the next few months.

Via Tweakers.net and 163

• Motorola MT710 oPhone is like a keyboard-less Droid for China
• LG to ship more 3G phones than Samsung, thanks to demand from China
• Nokia 6788 announced – Nokia’s first TD-SCDMA phone
• HTC to conquer China with its Android Magic smartphone
• Beijing Olympics seen to boost sales of white-box handsets in China

It’s great to know that it’s supposedly launching sometime very soon, but I’m even giddier after hearing today’s rumors that T-Mobile USA may very easily pick the HD2 up at some point.

Where did this rumor come from? Feast your eyes upon the image below. It appears to be some type of marketing piece for the HD2; whether it’s meant to be adding to the hype or if it’s just a grandeurized price card remains to be seen, but it still looks darn near official.

Granted, it doesn’t list the HD2 by name. But it really doesn’t have to. Just by looking at the included phone image and specs makes me (and virtually everyone else around the internet today) fairly certain that’s the mystery device.

Here’s what the sheet says:

“Mobile Entertainment Like You’ve Never Seen (engaged with) Before

How we bring this to life:

• TV/Movies at your fingertips
• Fantastic web browsing experience
• E-reader content

Product Features that Support this Value Prop:

• 4.3″ high resolution
• Capacitive, multi-touch screen
• Snapdragon processor”

So as you can tell, it is sounding eerily like the HTC HD2. But hey, only time will tell.

via TmoNews

• Best Buy prepping their unlocked HTC Touch Diamonds
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 to be announced on June 17?
• BlackBerry Gemini 8520 launch parties to debut on July 20?
• Archos to come with breakthrough Android Internet Media Tablet
• E-Ten Glofiish X600 detailed specs and good resulotion pics

Today, Samsung announced that the Armani B7620 will be available in Germany starting next month (November), and its price is indeed “about €700” – more exactly, it’s €729 ($1086).

As you may already know, the new Samsung Armani comes with Windows Mobile 6.5, as well as with a full QWERTY keyboard, a 3.5 inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen display, HSDPA connectivity, 5MP autofocus camera, and 8GB of internal memory.

The Samsung Armani B7620 smartphone should reach other European markets before the year’s end.

Via Press release

• Samsung Armani Windows phone (B7620) video hands-on
• Samsung Pixon 12’s price in Spain: €639, unlocked
• Samsung Giorgio Armani W820/W8200 in press photos
• Samsung Louvre B7610 to feature an AMOLED screen, 5MP camera and more
• Samsung Giorgio Armani W820 / W8200 shows up in Korea

Now this has been confirmed by Maarten Sonneburg from Microsoft Netherlands, who also provided new details regarding the future of Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

By late November/early December, the Marketplace will host many more apps than it does now, both paid and free. Moreover, a “geo selector” feature will allow users to download applications released in other countries than theirs.

At the moment, Windows Marketplace for Mobile is available only for Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones (like AT&T’s HTC Pure, or Verizon’s HTC Imagio).

Via MoDaCo

• Windows Marketplace opens for submissions on July 27; WM 6.0 and 6.1 will be supported
• Apple allows developers to provide free copies of iPhone apps through App Store
• Paid Android apps confirmed for this month
• Unannounced HTC Pure appears in AT&T’s stores
• LG Application Store launched in Asia, only for Windows Mobile

Well, it looks like British customers will be able to buy the HD2 starting November 11 – according to Clove, this is the date when the unlocked HTC HD2 will hit the UK for £469 excluding VAT (about €500 or $740).

Of course, the HD2 will be offered by at least one major UK carrier as well (most probably O2), but it’s not clear yet when this should happen.

The HD2 seems to be HTC’s most well-featured smartphone ever. It’s powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and features: Windows Mobile 6.5, a 4.3 inch WVGA touchscreen display, quad-band GSM and dual-band HSDPA/HSUPA connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS, Facebook and Twitter integration, 3.5mm headset jack, 448MB of RAM, 512MB of ROM, MicroSD card support, and a 1230 mAh battery.

• HTC Leo specs unveiled – Snapdragon chipset included
• Samsung B5722 and C6112 dual SIM phones show up
• LG GM310 music slider shows up, together with LG GB250, GB220, GB130 and GB102
• Acer M900, F900, X960 and DX900 officially announced
• Interesting Philips C600 and W186 unveiled

The B7620 is actually not just a phone, since it runs on Windows Mobile 6.5 – so it’s obviously a smartphone. The new Giorgio Armani handset from Samsung also features a full QWERTY keyboard, so it should be a good choice for those who want a fashionable device but also a completely-equipped smartphone.

Other features include: 3.5 inch WVGA AMOLED display, 5MP autofocus camera with, GPS and 8GB of internal memory.

The folks over at HDblog.it had the chance to play a bit with the Samsung Armani B7620 and recorded it all on video:

Samsung Armani B7620 costs slightly over $1,000 and it will probably be available before the year’s end in Europe.

• Samsung Armani B7620 goes to Germany in November, costs €729
• Samsung Giorgio Armani Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone unveiled
• Samsung Giorgio Armani W820 / W8200 shows up in Korea
• Samsung AMOLED 12M W880 – officially the world’s first 12MP camera phone with 3x optical zoom
• Samsung Giorgio Armani W820/W8200 in press photos

Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer himself presented the new device, saying that it’s “the most fashionable phone he’s ever had a chance to talk about.”

Resembling the Samsung Armani W820/W8200 feature phone, the WM 6.5 Samsung Armani doesn’t seem to have a name yet. Anyway, apart from Windows Mobile 6.5, it features a 3.5 inch AMOLED touchscreen display, GPS, 5MP camera, 8GB of internal memory, MicroSD card slot, and a full QWERTY keyboard.

The Samsung Armani Windows phone will cost €700 ($1032), although its release date is not known at the moment. Until the handset hits the market, here’s a video promo of it:

Via Blogosfere.it and Engadget

• Samsung Armani is SGH-P520 touchsreen card phone
• Samsung Armani B7620 goes to Germany in November, costs €729
• Samsung Armani Windows phone (B7620) video hands-on
• Samsung D980/D988 – DuoS with touchscreen
• Samsung Giorgio Armani W820/W8200 in press photos

So here we find Verizon’s holiday roadmap. Here’s what we’ve learned from other sources so far: The HTC Hero is coming in November, The Motorola Tao is coming late October/early November, and we just learned of the Samsung Moment officially today. We also know of the Razzle, Barrage, and Chocolate Touch.

Okay, we also know the Curve 2 and Storm 2 are on the way. Same with the Omnia 2. So what in the world is so groundbreaking about this roadmap?

The difference is that this document shows us the deadlines of each phone and when to expect them by.

For example, Verizon is embracing Android by releasing the Hero and Tao before Black Friday. The Imagio? Already out for B2B, stores should be selling them Oct 20.

Check out the pic for other goodies. Do tell, what are you most interested in?

courtesy Gizmodo

• Blackberry Storm 2 Release Date, Other Phones Leaked by Verizon Roadmap
• Verizon to launch Nokia Twist 7705, LG Chocolate Touch VX8575 and more
• HTC Hero in live pictures; the first review already published
• Verizon’s rugged Motorola Barrage V860 shows up
• Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8530, Samsung u640 Convoy and Casio G’Zone Brigade

As previously rumored, the Toshiba K01 is a Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone with a huge 4.1 WVGA touchscreen display and a full QWERTY keyboard that has a pretty weird key arrangement.

The K01 is 15mm thick and it should be announced by Toshiba sometime before the end of 2009. Until that happens, let’s see what this handset looks like:

Toshiba K02 has not one, but two displays (at least one of them being WVGA). It also features WM 6.5 and a 10-key keyboard. The smartphone should arrive next year.

Finally, the Toshiba L01 is more like a MID than a smartphone:

The L01 has a 7 inch WVGA display, runs Windows Mobile 6.5 and will probably be introduced in late 2010.

Via Akihabara News, WMpoweruser

• Toshiba TG02, TG03, K01, K02 and L01 leaked
• Toshiba TG01 video preview and pics
• Toshiba Portégé G810 confirmed for release on June 20th
• Toshiba TG01 – a 4.1 inch WVGA touchscreen display and only 9.9mm thick
• Toshiba TG02 shows up at the Wi-Fi Alliance website

It’s planning on coming out on Sunday, October 11, and will look awfully similar to the Ace. It has the same form factor with QWERTY keyboard, and ever-so-slightly improved features.

The Intrepid will be offering a 3.2 MP camera, world roaming, EVDO Rev A and WiFi support. It is a touchscreen with 2.5″ QVGA display so it will be using the Professional edition of 6.5.

If you are interested in the slightest, be prepared to shell out $150 with contract after $100 rebate. Still interested? Let us know in the comments what you think.

via PhoneArena

• Sprint to launch WM 6.5 Samsung Intrepid (Ace II), Samsung Moment
• Sprint’s Samsung ACE gets Windows Mobile 6.1, GPS
• Verizon LG Venus – a glimpse into the next generation of Chocolates
• Samsung Gravity officially announced
• Samsung Moment and Sanyo SCP-3810 now available at Sprint

Presented as the first Windows phone with HTC Sense (the UI that’s also used on the Android-powered HTC Hero), the HTC HD2 obviously comes to replace the 2008 HTC HD.

HTC hasn’t confirmed all the specs of HD2 yet, but it did say that the smartphone comes with: a 4.3 inch capacitive WVGA touchscreen display, Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU at 1Ghz, Microsoft Exchange, proximity sensor, light sensor, Wi-Fi, 5MP photo camera, and HTC Peep – a new Windows-based version of HTC’s Twitter application.

Customers will be able to buy an optional car kit, which “automatically transforms HD2s user interface into a finger friendly in-car navigation experience for driving.”

HTC HD2 will be first available via Orange France, starting the next few weeks. By the end of October, the smartphone will reach other European markets too.

HTC didn’t announce the price of HD2.

Via Press release

• HTC HD2 to hit the UK on November 11, unlocked
• Windows Mobile 6.5 and MyPhone video demo and pics
• HTC Hero costs €99 in Spain with an Orange contract
• Audio Notes Touch for Windows Mobile
• Orange UK launches business homescreen for Samsung Omnia Pro B7330, sells 30K iPhones

Well, today Microsoft has unveiled all the devices that will come with Windows Mobile 6.5 in near future, including some WM 6.1 handsets that will be upgraded to the new version of the mobile OS.

In the US, apart from the already mentioned smartphones, customers will also be able to buy the Samsung Intrepid from Sprint (pictured below), starting October 11. Latin America will also get a taste of Windows Mobile 6.5, as TIM Brasil will launch the Samsung Omnia II in the coming weeks.

Moving on, here’s the list with WM 6.5 devices that will come to Europe:

• HTC HD2 from Orange France, available in the coming weeks (the HD2 has been officially announced by HTC too)
• MDA Vario V, MDA Compact V, HTC Touch2 and Samsung Omnia II from Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) in select markets
• HTC Touch2 from Orange – in France, Spain, Switzerland and Romania
• Samsung Omnia II from Orange – in Poland, Switzerland, Slovakia and France
• Samsung Omnia LITE from Orange France and Spain
• Samsung Omnia PRO B7320 from Orange France and UK
• Toshiba TG01 W from Orange – an update to the TG01 coming in the next few weeks in France, the UK, Switzerland and Romania
• LG GM750 and Samsung Omnia II from SFR in France
• TMN Bluebelt 2 and TMN Silverbelt (both made by ZTE) from TMN Portugal
• Samsung Omnia II and Omnia LITE from TMN Portugal
• HTC Touch Diamond2 from Vodafone – in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia and South Africa
• HTC Touch Pro2 from Vodafone UK and Switzerland
• LG GM750 from Vodafone Germany, UK, Spain and Netherlands

In Asia, China Unicom will launch the ZTE X60, while Telstra Australia prepares the HTC Touch Diamond2.

There’s also a list of WM 6.5 phones that are apparently available in Asia on the open market:

• Acer neoTouch, beTouch E100, beTouch E101 and beTouch E200
• Garmin-ASUS nüvifone M20
• HTC Snap, HTC Touch Pro2, HTC Touch Diamond2 and HTC Touch2
• LG GM730 and LG GM550
• Samsung Omnia II, Omnia PRO B7320 and Omnia PRO B7330

All Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets come with Windows Marketplace for Mobile and Microsoft My Phone.

“A Windows phone lets people take their entire world of digital information, communications, applications and entertainment with them wherever they go,” declared Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Via Microsoft

• Samsung Omnia HD is still Omnia HD in Italy. Promoted with X-Men Origins: Wolverine
• LG GM750 with Windows Mobile 6.5 announced by Vodafone
• Orange signs partnership with Google to offer Google Mobile App
• Microsoft is negotiating carrier-branded versions of Windows Marketplace
• Qik adds support for 20+ new phones for the holidays

Luckily we have Boy Genius on the scene to translate what “coming weeks” meant; apparently by coming weeks, AT&T meant roughly 4 days.

But we understand why the extra leeway is given. After all, there have been a few botched launch attempts on AT&T’s end in the recent months. The Nokia Mural is one example, the Blackberry Bold software update another. So it makes sense that the October 8 date isn’t being spread out to the entire world just in case there’s a last-minute recall.

Obviously we sure hope there isn’t, but at least AT&T has had the pleasure of introducing the first Windows Mobile 6.5 device to the world in the HTC Pure.

Since the internal docs that BGR got ahold of were dated on Oct 2, we know that this is pretty relevant information to be giving out. Not to mention the fact that BGR only typically publishes rumors that are relevant and have some basis to them.

via BGR

• Microsoft announces huge list of Windows Mobile 6.5 phones, HTC HD2 included
• Microsoft’s dual platform strategy confirmed, WinMo 6.5 Touch promised
• Silver Motorola Q9h with Windows Mobile 6.1 now available at AT&T stores
• Verizon readying WM 6.5 HTC Imagio and Android HTC Predator for next month
• Motorola Dext hits Orange UK on October 7; Verizon’s Droid / Tao / Sholes may come on October 30

If you use iPhone, sorry. No progress to report there.

So here’s what Flash 10.1 will have to offer: full Flash with GPU acceleration so that you can play YouTube videos in HD. It will add in support for accelerometers, multitouch, and gestures. It will also work for Netbooks as well.

Does this mean you’ll be able to watch Hulu on your mobile device? Yes, yes it does. On every major smartphone OS except one.

There’s only one bad piece of news here, and that’s the waiting time; while betas will be coming out this year for WinMo and WebOS, full rollout won’t be taking place until mid-2010. Android and Symbian betas will be early next year.

But still, we’re incredibly happy to hear how much better the mobile internet experience will be getting in the very near future.

And it’s one more checkmark for any smartphone besides the iPhone.

via Adobe

• Flash 10.1 for Palm WebOS to come in the first half of 2010
• Adobe Prepping Flash for iPhone
• HTC Hero will come with full Adobe Flash support
• Palm Pre and the webOS platform will support Flash
• Flash is Coming to The iPhone. Well, Sort of.

What do you mean, you’ve already seen the Pure show up and get sold in AT&T retail stores? If you said it’s a formality, you’d likely be correct. It’s gotta get announced sometime, right?

In the press release we learned that the Pure is now available as we speak for $149 after contract and $50 rebate, and the Tilt2 will become available for $299 after $50 rebate “in the coming weeks”.

Both devices will feature WinMo 6.5 and HTC’s TouchFLO 3D UI. Everything else is rather well-known at this point.

via AT&T Press Room

• AT&T’s HTC Pure shows up, might cost $149.99 on contract
• Unannounced HTC Pure appears in AT&T’s stores
• AT&T Roadmap Revealed
• AT&T Tilt2 Coming to Play October 8
• Microsoft announces huge list of Windows Mobile 6.5 phones, HTC HD2 included

The HTC Pure (AT&T’s version of the Touch Diamond2) was already spotted in some AT&T stores – and Mobility Digest has live photos of it.

Like the original Diamond2, HTC Pure should come with nice features like: a WVGA touchscreen display, TouchFlo 3D, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS and a 5MP camera with autofocus.

Rumors have it that AT&T will sell the HTC Pure for $149.99 on contract – not a bad price, that’s for sure, especially since Verizon’s HTC Imagio will cost $200.

Via WMPoweruser

• Verizon’s HTC Imagio XV6975 in new photos
• Verizon Touch Diamond Confirmed for Release Tomorrow
• Verizon’s Touch Diamond2 leaked; HTC Mega and Tachi also show up
• Verizon readying WM 6.5 HTC Imagio and Android HTC Predator for next month
• AT&T’s HTC Pure shows up, might cost $149.99 on contract

In the UK, the names will be changed as follows: Acer F1 will be Acer neoTouch; Acer C1 will be Acer beTouch E100; Acer E1 will be Acer beTouch E101; and Acer L1 will be Acer beTouch E200.

According to Clove, the smartphones should hit the UK next week, for prices between €200 (the 3G-less beTouch E101) and €370 (the Snapdragon-powered F1 / neoTouch, pictured below).

No word yet if the Acer A1 (which is an Android 2.0 smartphone) will have its name changed as well.

• Acer to offer free smartphones (on contract) in the US
• Acer F1 may come in September powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon CPU
• Unannounced, weird Acer smartphone pops up
• Acer Liquid A1 to come in November for €380 unlocked
• Acer F1 coming on October 6 for under $500?

Previously known as HTC Leo, the unannounced smartphone is called HTC Touch HD2 by T-Mobile.

As you may already know, the HD2 will be one of the nicest Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets around, featuring a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 4.3 WVGA touchscreen display, and a 5MP camera with flash.

The price and release date of T-Mobile’s HTC HD2 are not known at the moment.

T-Mobile should launch the mid-end HTC Touch2 too (which will also come with Windows Mobile 6.5), although it’s not clear yet when exactly.

Via Cool Smartphone

• HTC Touch Pro 2 and Samsung C6625v coming to Vodafone UK
• Verizon’s Touch Diamond2 leaked; HTC Mega and Tachi also show up
• Sprint HTC Touch Pro 2 / Rhodium to come in June; live pics leaked
• Unlocked HTC Touch Pro2 available in the UK
• HTC Leo specs unveiled – Snapdragon chipset included

All we knew previously was that it is coming, but unsure when. WM Experts has hunted down a statement from Todd Brix of Microsoft that tells us this particular phase, in which Windows Marketplace will be ready for 6.0/6.1 devices, is called Phase 2 and will be ready in November.

On top of that, we also learned from Brix that Phase 2 will bring “the PC based catalog and shopping experience, user generated app reviews, advanced key-based anti-piracy protection and other enhancements that expand your business opportunity and make it easier for a larger number of customers to find and buy your application.”

Sounds great! I can’t wait to try it out. And I’m sure there are millions of 6.1 users that will be very eager to try it out as well.

via WM Experts

• Windows Marketplace for Mobile updated, PC-based shopping now available
• Windows Marketplace opens for submissions on July 27; WM 6.0 and 6.1 will be supported
• More details on Windows Mobile Marketplace’s Phase 2
• Microsoft is negotiating carrier-branded versions of Windows Marketplace
• Windows Mobile 7 to come with app marketplace called “Skymarket”

The most important new phone is, of course, the HTC Imagio, which is actually a smartphone that will come with Windows Mobile 6.5.

Verizon will sell the Imagio online starting October 6, and in retail locations starting October 20. The handset’s price is of $199.99 with a 2-yr contract agreement and after a $100 rebate.

For that money, you get the following features: 3.6 inch WVGA touchscreen display, TouchFlo 3D, HSDPA and EV-DO Rev. A connectivity, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm headset jack, 5MP autofocus camera, and V CAST Mobile TV (this service costs $15 per month).

Next we have the Nokia 2705 Shade, a clamshell touted as “one of the smallest phones to be offered by Verizon.”

Nokia 2705 Shade has internal and external displays, 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth, micro USB and a battery that can provide a talk-time of up to 5 hours. The phone will be available on October 6, in two versions (with or without camera), and users will be able to buy Xpress-on color covers for it. As for the price, Verizon asks only $29.99 for the 2705 Shade (with a 2-yr agreement).

The third new phone from Verizon, Motorola Barrage V860, is also a clamshell – but a rugged one that’s shock, vibration, water and humidity resistant.

The features of Motorola Barrage include: push-to-talk, VZ Navigator, 2MP camera and a 1170 mAh battery. The Barrage is available at Verizon starting today, for $129.99 with a 2-yr agreement and after a $50 mail-in rebate. There will also be a cameraless version, launched on October 21.

Verizon Razzle is the fourth new phone. As previously reported, this is a candybar with a QWERTY keyboard that swivels to unveil dedicated music controls. Other features include a 2.2 inch QVGA display, VZ Navigator, Bluetooth, 1.3MP camera and a 1GB card.

Verizon Razzle costs $69.99 on contract. It will be available starting October 6.

And finally we have the Gateway LT2016u – a new netbook with Windows XP, 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi, 10.1-inch WSVGA display, Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, 1GB DDR2, and a 160GB hard drive.

Verizon will offer the Gateway LT2016u netbook starting October 4, for $149.99 with a 2-yr agreement and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

Via Mobile Burn

• Nokia 6350 announced by AT&T, only $29.99
• Verizon’s Pantech Razzle TXT8030 in official photos
• Best Buy pre-selling Motorola Droid on October 29, no mail-in rebate
• Verizon’s Motorola Rival A455 and Casio Exilim C721 coming on June 10
• Verizon announces the HTC Ozone; only $49.99 starting June 29

With the TerreStar Genus, users can connect to a satellite network when the cellular one isn’t available, this way benefiting from a wider coverage area.

Apart from satellite voice and data capabilities, the TerreStar Genus smartphone also features: Windows Mobile (it’s not clear yet what version), GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, a 2.6 inch touchscreen display, full QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth.

The Genus looks a bit like the Elektrobit hybrid smartphone seen back in April:

Starting the first quarter of 2010, the TerreStar Genus smartphone will be available to AT&T enterprise, government and small business customers. AT&T said that it’s “working on a similar solution” for regular consumers too.

Via Press release

• #CTIA09: Elektrobit Hybrid Cellular-Satellite Phone
• LG GR500 shows up, might be AT&T Xenon / Zenon
• LG GW620 (Etna) with Android officially announced
• HTC Snap / S522 QWERTY smartphone announced
• Nokia’s smartphone roadmap unveils: a 8MP camera handset, three high-end touchscreen devices and more

A leaked page from an O2 UK catalaog is suggesting that the carrier is really close to launching the HTC HD2 (it should happen in October) and that it’s presenting it as having “the largest screen yet on a mobile” – the 4.3 inch WVGA display pretty much validates this statement.

As previously reported, the new smartphone will also feature a 5MP autofocus camera and a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Of course, the HD2 / Leo is still not officially announced, so we don’t know its exact release date or price at the moment.

Via Engadget

• HTC HD2 and Touch2 coming to T-Mobile Europe
• Acer F1 coming on October 6 for under $500?
• HTC Leo shows up in new photos – looks awesome
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X3 Rachael teaser video shows up
• Toshiba TG01 exclusively from O2 in Germany

The Imagio XV6975 should be launched by Verizon in the first half of October (presumably on October 6), coming with Windows Mobile 6.5 and other really nice features.

Reportedly, the unannounced smartphone has a 3.6 inch WVGA touchscreen display, global connectivity (CDMA and GSM), TouchFlo 3D, Wi-Fi, VCast MobileTV, 3.5mm headset jack, 5MP camera with autofocus, and a 528MHz processor.

No word yet on the price of Verizon’s HTC Imagio XV6975.

Via Phone Arena

• Verizon readying WM 6.5 HTC Imagio and Android HTC Predator for next month
• Verizon announces HTC Imagio, Nokia 2705 Shade, Motorola Barrage and more
• Unannounced HTC Pure appears in AT&T’s stores
• Verizon’s Touch Diamond2 leaked; HTC Mega and Tachi also show up
• Pink LG Arena, Samsung Toco Lite for the UK

As of today, owners of WM phones have Google Mobile App with My Location and thus they can get local results without typing their location. In case you don’t want it, the My Location feature can be disabled in the Advanced Options menu.

Other new features that Google Mobile App for Windows Mobile brings include Google Suggest (offering suggestions to complete your search queries faster) and Search with Maps (you need to have Google Maps installed for this).

If you don’t have Google Mobile App on your phone, you can get the latest version from m.google.com.

Via Google Mobile Blog

• Google Maps for mobile gets voice search – only on BlackBerry Pearl devices, for now
• Google Mobile App for BlackBerry now available
• Google Mobile Now Available on S60
• Google Mobile Search with My Location now available on Windows Mobile
• Google Mobile App now offered through Best Buy stores

Launched at the beginning of the year, Google Sync is a service that lets you synchronize Google Calendar and Gmail Contacts with your phone. And, as of today, it also offers Gmail messages pushed directly on your handset.

The service allows you to sync only the Calendar, Contacts or Gmail if you don’t need them all synced.

Google Sync is also available for Symbian S60 and BlackBerry, but without push Gmail support (for the moment at least).

Google Sync can be tried out at m.google.com/sync

Via Google Mobile Blog

• Google Sync Beta available for Symbian S60
• Gmail and Google Calendar for iPhone and Android updated
• Google Sync for BlackBerry updated with Android-like Contacts feature
• Best Buy launches mIQ, its own mobile cloud service for smartphones
• Google testing Gmail SMS Chat in Labs

AT&T hasn’t officially announced the Pure, but images of it have recently been spotted over at HTCpedia.

The Windows Mobile smartphone appears dressed in two cases, but we can still see that its design is slightly different than the one of Touch Diamond2. No details about the specs yet, although a 5MP camera is definitely in there.

HTC Pure may be sold by AT&T for $149.99 (with a 2-yr contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate), or for $349.99 free of contract. As for its release date, the HTC Pure will probably hit AT&T in the next few months.

• Tilt2, HTC Pure Now Official on AT&T
• Verizon Touch Diamond Confirmed for Release Tomorrow
• Unannounced HTC Pure appears in AT&T’s stores
• Sprint officially launches the HTC Touch Pro. October 26 will see it in stores
• Verizon Touch Diamond Geared for April 10 Release

A promo video of the Omnia Pro B7610 has recently been posted on YouTube, and it looks like this is an official video, made by Samsung.

Of course, there are no big changes in design: the navigation keys look different, and the camera flash has been repositioned. Other than that, the smartphone has the same form factor, with a big touchscreen and a 4-row sliding QWERTY keyboard.

The full specs of Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 include:

• 3.5 inch AMOLED WVGA display
• HSDPA 7.2Mbps
• Wi-Fi
• GPS
• DNSe 3D sound
• 5MP camera
• DivX video playback
• 3.5mm headset jack
• 800MHz CPU
• 500MB user memory
• 115 x 60 x 15.5 mm

The promo video mentions that the B7610 has Windows Mobile 6.1, but Samsung announced last week that the smartphone will actually come with Windows Mobile 6.5, sometime in October.

Via Samsung Hub

• Samsung Omnia II i8000 and Omnia Lite B7300 smartphones announced
• Samsung Omnia II starts shipping this weekend. In Singapore
• Samsung Omnia II i920 for Verizon gets pictured
• Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 now official
• Samsung Omnia 2 i8000 reaches new markets, Australia and China included

According to BGR, HTC Imagio features a 3.6 inch WVGA touchscreen display, GPS, 5MP camera with autofocus, 528MHz Qualcomm processor, 512MB ROM, 256MB RAM and global connectivity (CDMA/EV-DO and GSM).

Verizon’s HTC Imagio / Whitestone should look like this (image via WMExperts):

Windows Mobile aside, Verizon is also getting ready to release an Android smartphone in October: it’s the HTC Predator, of which we know little about.

The Predator might be the HTC PR17 recently approved by the Bluetooth SIG as an Android phone featuring Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR and A2DP.

• Verizon’s HTC Imagio XV6975 in new photos
• HTC Whitestone to hit Verizon as XV6975, Touch Pro2 as XV6875
• Verizon’s Touch Diamond2 leaked; HTC Mega and Tachi also show up
• HTC XV6175 for Verizon to have GSM and CDMA connectivity?
• Verizon announces HTC Imagio, Nokia 2705 Shade, Motorola Barrage and more

As previously reported, the F1 is a really nice device. Not only that it’s well designed, but it also has some impressive specs, including: 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 3.8 inch touchscreen display with 480 x 800 pixels, accelerometer, quad-band GSM and tri-band HSPA connectivity, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm headset jack, 5MP autofocus camera, 512MB ROM and 256MB RAM.

In the UK, Acer F1’s price will be of about £295 ($482) – not that much for a handset with those features.

Apart from releasing Windows Mobile devices, Acer is also getting ready to introduce its first Android smartphone this year – although it’s not clear yet when exactly.

Via PhoneArena

• Acer A1 with Android 2.0 on pre-order
• Acer M900, F900, X960 and DX900 officially announced
• HTC Leo specs unveiled – Snapdragon chipset included
• Acer F1 specs confirmed, live pics spotted
• Samsung Galaxy i7500 from O2 UK in August

The Reclaim is 80% made from recyclable materials and it features: QVGA landscape display, full QWERTY keyboard, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5mm headset jack, GPS, HTML browsing, 2MP camera and expandable memory (up to 32GB).

Bell is offering the Samsung Reclaim for prices ranging from $49.95 with a 3-yr agreement to $219.95 free of contract.

Within the next 30-45 day, Samsung will launch other three new phones in Canada: Samsung Omnia 2 with Windows Mobile 6.5, Samsung Galaxy with Android, and Samsung Impact (which kind of resembles T-Mobile’s Samsung Highlight).

No word yet about the carriers that will offer these upcoming Samsung handsets in Canada.

Via MobileSyrup

• Samsung to launch Android phones priced at “well under $100″?
• Eco-friendly Samsung Reclaim M560 to be launched by Bell Canada
• Samsung Galaxy i7500 finally available from O2 UK
• Bell’s Samsung Omnia II is the Official Mobile Device of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games
• Samsung Galaxy i7500 coming to France’s Bouygues Telecom for 99 EUR

A job announcement found at Mictosoft’s official website unveils that WM 7 will feature a “Mobile Social Platform” that should “bring social networks to life by integrating them into the core experience” of Windows Mobile 7 phones.

More exactly, Microsoft wants users to get all the news and updates from their favorite social networks in a “single hub” integrated into their phones. So it seems that Windows Mobile 7 will be able to offer what Palm’s Synergy and Motorola’s Blur are offering.

The Mobile Social Platform for WM 7 is in the early stage of development, that’s why Microsoft is looking for a senior program manager to help “several WM7 teams” develop it. The job announcement can be found here.

Via MobileTechWorld

• Steve Ballmer: Windows Mobile 7 will come in 2010
• Motorola preparing WebOS-like Blur Android UI?
• Windows Marketplace is now open for registration
• Microsoft to limit number of Windows Mobile devices on the way to announcing something major at MWC 2009
• Microsoft’s Silverlight for Windows Mobile available unofficially