Windows Mobile 6 'unveiled'

We all know it's impossible to keep a secret on the InterWeb these days, and sure enough one of the worst-kept secrets is the imminent appearance of Windows Mobile 6, codenamed 'Crossbow'. Microsoft will do the official bit at 3GSM in Barcleona (to be dutifully covered by ZDNet UK's intrepid reporting team).

But to whet the appetite, here's a few screenshots unearthed by our CNET colleagues in the US:










There will be three editions, as before, now renamed as Classic (formerly Pocket PC Edition), Standard (formerly Smartphone Edition) and Professional (formerly Pocket PC Phone Edition). Here are the feature highlights:

* Ability to view email in original HTML format
* Enhanced Mobile Office Suite allows for viewing and editing documents
* Windows Vista synchronization
* Windows Live for Mobile: services include mail, messenger, search and contacts
* Calendar Ribbon for easily viewing your day or week's schedule
* Nine new one-click email shortcuts, including Reply-all, Moving messages to subfolder and Delete
* Call history associated with Contacts
* "One-click easy" Internet Sharing option for using a smartphone as a notebook modem
* Information Rights Management
* Easier VoIP integration (more for the device manufacturers and carriers).

Check out our 3GSM coverage next week for more details. We'll also post a full preview in Reviews as soon as possible.