The Windows mobile marketplace and IE will be the accompanies. Be sure to get your battery charged and don’t forget to back-up. The ROM can be found here.

MS will eventually make it available after a few months. Till then, for the older versions - standing in the queue is the best alternative.

Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation says,”The HTC Touch2 delivers a familiar touch experience that millions of people have come to expect and rely on from HTC in their daily lives. Whether it’s making a call, checking in with a friend or simply responding to an important email, the HTC Touch2 puts you in touch and in control.”

The device will have Windows Mobile Marketplace and MyPhone Service. Other specs include a TouchFlo 3D, You Tube support, Google Maps, synchronization with MS Exchange and better Internet Explorer integrated with Adobe Flash Lite. Get more info at the official webpage of HTC.

After a number of leaked builds, the official release seems quite tempting. So, a worldwide launch of handsets at the retail stores with the new OS is expected to be bookmarked on this very day(a freeware can be speculated for some smartphones.) If that was not enough, the news is that carriers like Sprint, Verizon Wireless and AT&T are to jump in as well.

Some ingredients are listed here:

• The updated IE browser that's inclusive of a built-in Adobe Flash Lite support and allows easy access to third-party applications such as Facebook, Netflix and Zagat
• Windows Mobile Marketplace allowing you direct download of tested and authenticated apps
• MyPhone freeware including ‘Find my Phone’ feature
• A finger friendly touchscreen that allows you to customize keyboards and widgets

Todd Peters , MS corporate vice president of mobile communications marketing went on to say: "A Windows phone gives people a single phone that works for their whole life, keeping them connected to the people and information they care most about by harnessing the power of the PC, phone and Web."

With a ‘not so good’ financial position and stiff competition from every corner of the world, a powerful growth strategy is a must. Let’s see whether the official 6.5 version goes well with the masses or remains just a temporary craze. Read the official announcement here.

• Cumbersome registration process
• High cost of certification testing
• Payment issues regarding credit cards
• Not a student friendly program – freebies enrolled through Microsoft Dreamspark program not delighted
• No copyright protection guarantee
• Archaic process for identity verification, including attestation by a Public Notary
• Extra charges(about $99) for each application despite of it passing the required tests
• May not impress non-US citizens