I guess it's not just the desktop version of Windows that people are confused about these days. But at least this time it's not Microsoft's fault.
Over the past few days, a number of news reports have sprung up claiming that Microsoft was getting rid of the Windows Mobile brand and was changing it to Windows Phones. The Windows Mobile 6.5 name would be the first to go.
That's not what's happening.
Windows Phones is simply an umbrella marketing term for Microsoft's overall smart phone efforts (e.g. the entire smart phone platform). Not coincidentally, I used this name in my own article, way back in February, describing Microsoft's efforts this year to advance its smart phone platform: Windows Mobile 6.5, My Phone, and Windows Marketplace.
Microsoft confirmed this is still the case with the following statement:
"Microsoft started using the term Windows Phone within the industry at Mobile World Congress on February 16, 2009. It is a simple way for consumers to identify the new generation of Windows phones that will be available this fall through our mobile partners; and will include new services on them such as My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
Huh. Those are all the things I mentioned in that aforementioned article. It's like nothing has changed. Oh! That's because nothing has changed.
The operating system is still Windows Mobile, folks. Microsoft confirmed this as well.
"We will still use the term 'Windows Mobile' to identify the operating system releases (e.g. - 6.1, 6.5)."
OK, enough with the silliness. That's what you get for trusting a site like The Inquirer. Or, sadly, PC World. Come on guys. At least try.