• March 1, 2010

Owners of Windows Mobile 6 are apparently out of luck when it comes to upgrading to the new version of the Microsoft smartphone operating system. Natasha Kwan, Microsoft's general manager for mobile communications business in the Asia-Pacific market, told tech blog APC that because of specific requirements for Windows Phone 7, "the current phones we have right now will not be upgradable."

That includes HTC's just-launched touchscreen HD2 phone. Ouch. As if to rub it in, Microsoft Monday unveiled the first Windows Phone 7 prototype device, an LG device with a slide-out Qwerty keyboard. After getting a sneak peak, gear blog Engadget described the device as slightly thicker than the iPhone and Nexus One, with dedicated home, back and search buttons. Microsoft formally introduced Windows Phone 7 last month but the first phones running the new OS won't be available until the end of the year.

Microsoft said it would rebrand the Windows Mobile 6 as Windows Mobile Classic and assured users it would continue to support the platform. So they've got that going for them. --Mark Walsh