Crave

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

Windows Marketplace for Mobile debuted in October as Microsoft's answer to smartphone app stores. As with Google's Android Market, Windows Mobile 6.5 users could initially only find and purchase apps from the device. Now Microsoft has published an online catalog to mirror its mobile storefront.

As with iPhone's app store in iTunes and BlackBerry's online App World, Windows Marketplace for Mobile site lets you find apps by browsing, searching, or discovering programs from lists of what's most popular or new. App screenshots, ratings, and version details are accessible from product pages. Like BlackBerry's App World, you can pick apps from the online catalog to install via Marketplace for Mobile on your smartphone.

In addition to discovering new applications to download, the online mobile Marketplace has a management window for you to track your download history and tweak your account settings.

Developers will see a separate portal that contains community resources, blog posts, and lists of upcoming events. Although Microsoft has been the tardiest of the major mobile platform developers to implement an app store solution, it's to Microsoft's credit that the company is quickly rounding out its storefront with an online catalog. Now Microsoft just needs to open up the Marketplace to phone owners using older versions of Windows Mobile operating systems.

(Credit: HTC)

One of the smartphones that left quite an impression on us at was the HTC HD2. It could have been the massive 4.3-inch capacitive touch screen, its extreme thinness, or that the Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone was powered by Qualcomm's new 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor--whatever the reason, we wanted this device.

Well, it looks like we might be only a few months away from seeing this wish become reality. Already shipping in Europe and now in Taiwan, HTC announced on Wednesday that it plans to bring the HTC HD2 to the United States with a major carrier in early 2010.

Unfortunately, the company did not reveal which U.S. provider would have that honor, or any pricing information, but we should note that the smartphone will be available through T-Mobile UK on November 9 and TmoNews has spotted the smartphone mentioned in some leaked T-Mobile USA documents. We'll let you know as soon as we hear anything official, but certainly something to look forward to in the new year. For a preview of what's to come, check out our from CTIA Fall 2009.

On Thursday, Sprint hosted an online chat with its customers and its vice president of consumer marketing, David Owens, who revealed some of the carrier's plans for upcoming smartphones.

During the hour-long session, Owens answered questions on a variety of topics, ranging from service plans to community to, of course, future products. Regarding the latter, Owens said there will be a "robust" lineup of BlackBerry and HTC devices in 2010 and reiterated that a Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry Tour, as well as other such-equipped BlackBerrys, are coming.

The HTC smartphones will run on the Google Android platform, though Owens did not expand on features or form factor. He did say that Sprint is working on releasing an over-the-air Android OS update (unclear whether it will be Android 1.6 or 2.0) for the HTC Hero and the Samsung Moment, but it was important for the company to get these smartphones out to the market first.

Also on the topic of Android, Owens did not rule out the possibility of a dual-mode (GSM/CDMA) Android phone or one equipped with a MiFi-type router and said he sees opportunities for price drops as more Android smartphones come to market.

Switching gears to Windows Mobile, there are plans to release a Windows Mobile 6.5 update in early 2010 for the HTC Touch Pro2 and possibly other Windows phones, such as the HTC Touch Diamond, but they are still in the testing phase at this point. However, Owens said Sprint is committed to Windows Mobile, adding that it's an important platform to the carrier and that it wants Windows Mobile 6.5 and 7.0 as soon as possible but that will be dependent on Microsoft.

Some other interesting tidbits from the chat: WiMax phones are definitely in the plan for 2010; Sprint is looking for ways to deploy a next-generation Airave; and there are no current plans to bring back tethering as part of the carrier's Everything Data and Simply Everyting plans. You can find the full transcript of the chat session here.

(Via Gearlog)

Samsung Code for MetroPCS

(Credit: Samsung)

On Monday, MetroPCS introduced its first Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone, the Samsung Code. Though it's not running the latest , the Code does give MetroPCS customers another smartphone choice, which is a bit lacking to say the least (the carrier's only other smartphone is the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330).

The Code offers the standard WinMo features, including Outlook synchronization and the Microsoft Office Mobile Suite, as well as 3G support, stereo Bluetooth, and a 2-megapixel camera. It also has a full QWERTY keyboard, up to 32GB expandable memory, and an optional WizPro interface, which lets you customize the home screen with various shorcuts.

The Samsung Code (SCH-i220) is available now for $299.99 with a $50 prepaid monthly plan, which includes unlimited voice, text, and data.

Article updated at 5:00 pm to correct mIQ media sharing details.

Best Buy Mobile's mIQ dashboard is easier on the eye.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

Microsoft introduced its My Phone service last week, an online dashboard for managing and sharing the contents of your mobile phone. We liked some aspects, and critiqued some others. Ultimately, we wished that Microsoft had teamed up with its Seattle neighbor, connected services startup Dashwire, whose legacy dashboard did much of the same thing as My Phone does now, but did it better. Dashwire has since turned its standalone product into a platform. Best Buy Mobile snapped up a license and is now offering its own sync-and-share service, called mIQ (short for mobile IQ).

I know what you're thinking: The T-Mobile Sidekick backup service just failed, and the blame is Microsoft's. Why trust its My Phone service at all? But backup isn't the point of these services. They're about management. Moreover, comfortably managing the contents of your smartphone from a screen and keypad that's larger than anything you can get on your smartphone. And if you delete a number or photo from the Web or phone, it's gone. Neither of these services intends to save it, but they do intend to make it available online.

So now that that's clear, it's time for a throwdown.

My Phone and mIQ both download small clients to the mobile phone. From there, they bidirectionally sync the phone's contents to an online dashboard. My Phone is limited to Windows phones, but mIQ is free for anyone with a BlackBerry, Symbian, or Windows phone.

Features

We'll say right off the bat that Microsoft's My Phone is richer in feature types overall compared with Best Buy Mobile's mIQ. ... Read more

The Samsung Omnia 2 was announced for Verizon Wireless back in June, but an official release date and pricing were not disclosed at that time. Unfortunately, CTIA Fall 2009 didn't reveal any new information, but we did finally get some hands-on time with the device.

Both Samsung and Microsoft had the Omnia successor displayed on the show floor, but a Microsoft employee was kind enough to part with his personal GSM version of the Omnia 2 so we could check it out. The smartphone was running Windows Mobile 6.5, but there's some question as to whether the Verizon Omnia 2 will ship with Windows Mobile 6.5 out of the box or Windows Mobile 6.1 with an option to update the OS. Let's hope it's the former.

Let's also hope it ships soon. With the release of the HTC Imagio and the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 and Android devices, the competition's getting pretty stiff. Check out our hands-on photos of the Samsung Omnia 2 below and just remember that this isn't the Verizon model, but it'll at least give you an idea of what to expect.

Samsung Omnia 2 photos

HTC HD2

(Credit: Bonnie Cha/CNET)

Of all the Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones announced this week at CTIA Fall 2009, the HTC HD2 is arguably the sexiest and most powerful of the bunch.

The HD2 boasts a 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) capacitive touch screen and is powered by Qualcomm's new 1GHz Snapdragon mobile processor, all while measuring just 0.43 inches in thickness. It also offers an HTC Sense user experience, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 5-megapixel camera, a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack--the works.

With those kind of impressive specs and sexy looks, can you blame us for being disappointed when it was a no-show at Wednesday night's Mobile Focus event? Well, someone must have heard our nighttime prayers because HTC America's vice president of sales and marketing, Jason Mackenzie, presented us with a surprise this morning: the HTC HD2.

Though it wasn't running final software, we were impressed with the phone's responsiveness, the customizable user interface, and then there's the screen, oh, the beautiful screen. Images and text absolutely pop and you can see so much more at a glance given the extra-large screen. Perhaps the best part? HTC has added multitouch capabilities so, like the iPhone and Palm Pre, you can pinch your fingers to zoom in and out of Web pages, photos, and e-mails.

When can you get your hands on this thing? Well, as SlashGear reported Wednesday, HTC CEO Peter Chou said the company is working on a U.S.-compatible version of the HD2 for release in 2010. HTC America would neither confirm nor deny this, but Mackenzie added that the intent for the device is global distribution. When asked about possible U.S. carriers, Mackenzie didn't get into specifics but did say that the good thing about the HD2 is that it wouldn't be hard to pitch, and we certainly agree.

So while we wait, you can check out some hands-on photos of the HTC HD2 below. We'll add more commentary and first impressions soon, but feel free to get the discussion going on your thoughts of the HD2.

HTC HD2 photos

Bonnie and Kent are in San Diego this week covering the CTIA wireless trade show, so Nicole roped in Jason Howell and Donald Bell to cover all the week's news. We talk about the new Android phones, Windows Mobile 6.5, new phones for AT&T and Verizon, and of course, this week's reviews.

News
CTIA Fall 2009
Two Verizon Android phones in 2009
T-Mobile introduces Android-powered Samsung Behold II
Samsung Moment revealed as Sprint's second Android phone
T-Mobile rolls out Android 1.6 Donut to G1 and MyTouch 3G
Kyocera to announce Android phone
Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade details
Windows mobile app store, My Phone service officially opening
AT&T unveils Windows 6.5 phones: HTC Tilt 2, Pure
HTC HD2 revealed with HTC Sense
Sprint introduces Samsung Intrepid
AT&T reveals two new Pantech handsets
Samsung launches Mythic, Flight
Verizon Wireless introduces HTC Imagio
Verizon Wireless dazzles with the Razzle
Nokia 2705 Shade comes to Verizon Wireless
A Moto Barrage for Verizon

Reviews
HTC Imagio
HTC Pure
Samsung Instinct HD
Motorola Entice W766

Upcoming reviews
Motorola Barrage
Garmin Nuvifone G60
LG Bliss
Pantech Reveal

Windows Marketplace for Mobile is a brand-new app store for Windows phones.

(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

This week, Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5 phones jumped onto retail shelves. There's a lot to know about the launch, from news of the platform's availability to hands-on reviews of the app store, and some of the services. We've rounded up stories, pictures, and videos here, and will continue to add links as news streams out.

News

• Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade details
• With My Phone mobile sync, Microsoft reinvents the wheel
• Shazam debuts in Windows Marketplace for Mobile
• Windows mobile app store, My Phone service officially opening
• IE 6 for Windows phones: Interface improved
• Microsoft's Windows phones hit the market

Windows Mobile 6.5 phones

• Fall collection: Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones
• AT&T unveils Windows 6.5 phones: HTC Tilt 2, Pure
• Microsoft to launch more than 30 Windows Mobile 6.5 devices by end of year

In pictures:

• Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone photos
• Windows Marketplace for Mobile--screenshots
• Inside Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile 6.5

Windows Mobile 6.5 videos:

Internet Explorer Mobile 6: First Look video