Windows Mobile 6, the upcoming version of Redmond's mobile operating system to be unveiled next week, will come with mobile versions of Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. This decision from Microsoft makes a lot of sense, says Rob Enderle, principal at the Enderle Group, especially with the continuing increase in sales of smartphones at the expense of handheld devices.

Microsoft Office will be part of the Windows Mobile 6 package, even though there are carriers and handset manufacturers who believe they can put the limited memory and storage to better use. The Office applications are the most robust to date for the limited capacities of a cell phone. Spell checking in Word, though, is not included. Additional upgrades to the mobile OS include Microsoft's Direct Push Technology with automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks, and contacts using Exchange Server.

Windows Vista users on the desktop will be able to swap music, pictures, movies and Outlook information between the Vista PC and the mobile device.

Devices with Windows Mobile 6 will ship worldwide in the second quarter.

written by Robert M.