Several bloggers report that Microsoft showed off a new version of Windows Mobile yesterday, but very few details are available.  The only detail we know for sure is that this is not Windows Mobile 7, but more like WM 6.1.  This appears to be an incremental upgrade, and opposed to a whole new version.

Google has released a new version of Google Maps Mobile, including a native application for Windows Mobile similar to Microsoft's Live Search application.  The big news with Googe Maps Mobile is the My Location feature, which attempts to locate your position based on either a GPS receiver, or by triangulating cell towers!

Verizon Wireless has annouced a new initiative to allow any application and any device to use its networks by 2008.  The devices will have to be qualified in their labs, and details are still preliminary.

Microsoft has followed up with a statement of support.

This seems like a good development for mobile data collection, although applications running on Windows Mobile can use the Verizon Network now.  In fact ITScriptNet Omni, running on a Verizon Windows Mobile device such as the vx7600, works great over a Verizon Wireless data connection.

Have you seen the mobile device slated for use by the U.S. Census Bereau in 2010?

The device has Windows Mobile 5, an SD card slot, and a Fingerprint reader.  It appears to be more rugged than a consumer device, but probably not as much as an industrial data collector.  It also has a wireless modem on the Sprint network, and a dial-up modem built in for areas with no wireless. 

It looks quite capable by todays standards, but I wonder what we'll think of it in two years.

Intermec has just announced the CN3e, an extension of the CN3 with larger keys and optional integrated GPS.

Assuming that it is software compatible with the CN3, then our existing ITScriptNet client will work on this device. 

Here is some more information about Windows CE 6.0 R2, announced at the Embedded Technology Conference in Japan.  The release notes from Microsoft are here.

While there are many incremental changes over CE 6.0, and the addition of VOIP technologies, we don't really see many new features that will affect Data Collection devices.

Microsoft has released an update to Windows CE 6, called Windows CE 6.0 R2.  The official announcement is supposed to be Thursday at Embeded Technology World in Japan.

We should start seeing device with Windows CE 6 before too long!

HandHeld Products has updated the Dolphin 7600.  There are several new features available:

• Alpha keypad.  This is in addition to the standard Numeric keypad.
• Firmware update to 11.36
• Devicescape supplicant for WiFi
• Serial Homebase in addition to the standard USB homebase.

These items are listed in the Data Sheet for the device.

Google has announced the formation of a new alliance of hardware and software makers with the intention of creating a new mobile phone OS, caled Android.  Of course, our first reaction is to wonder whether any portable data collection device manufacturers will use this operating system on their terminals.  Motorola is listed as one of the participating companies, which could mean support on Symbol devices, but nothing has been officially announced at this time.

We'll keep you posted as this interesting project develops!

This is finally the weekend for the switch back from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time here in the United States.  We've discussed how to update your PCs and Windows Mobile devices before, but how does the transition affect you?  Dr. Sydney Spiesel discusses this in Slate Magazine.

Not too surprisingly, it turns out that people are affected by the time change, and that people are affected in different ways.  It is interesting that for some, the disruption of sleep/wake cycles can last the entire summer, resetting again on the change back to Standard Time!

Dr. Spiesel was also on line for a chat about the article.

We're starting to see some information about the new Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, announced last week at CTIA.

Here is Microsoft's official product homepage, and here is a brief overview describing how it will all work.

We are also starting to see device manufacturers announce support, including HP and Intermec.

It's still unclear whether this product will be useful for small and medium size companies, or just larger enterprises.  It's also not clear whether this is targeted primarily at Smartphone users, or if it will be useful for Data Collection devices inside a business.