T-Mobile Ships First Windows Mobile 6 Phone

T-Mobile said Tuesday it had launched the Wing, the successor to its MDA smartphone and the first handset in the United States to ship with Windows Mobile 6 installed.

The carrier was also the first to offer an upgrade for Windows Mobile 5 users with a T-Mobile Dash, and it said phones with the new OS installed would appear next month.

The Wing offers many improvements over the MDA, most noticeably a slimmer form factor. In additional, the phone also includes a new keyboard design and longer battery life, along with a 2.0-megapixel camera.

Like its predecessor, the Wing features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, with the option to use the device at any of T-Mobile's 8,000 HotSpot locations. It also includes support for all four major instant messaging services, including AOL, Windows Live, ICQ, and Yahoo.

Both Microsoft and T-Mobile hope the release of the device, which costs $299 USD with a two-year contract -- some $200 cheaper than the initial price of the MDA when it was first launched -- will help smartphones catch on with a broader market segment.

"The HTC-designed T-Mobile Wing is a versatile, user-friendly smartphone that will appeal to a wide range of consumers," HTC America vice president Todd Achilles said in a statement.

Microsoft released Windows Mobile 6 in February, but devices have been slow to make it to the States. This is likely due to the fact that smartphones have generally seen higher sales in markets in Europe and Asia than in North America.

Other enhancements provided by Windows Mobile 6 include improved security and easier syncing procedures. T-Mobile has also added support for its myFaves service.

The phone is available immediately from the company's Web site and retail stores, T-Mobile said.