Windows Mobile 6.1 recently premiered with nods to capabilities in Apple's iPhone.
The software offers a full HTML internet browsing experience letting users zoom and pan web pages. With its support for Adobe Flash and Microsoft's Silverlight, Mobile users can view multimedia internet applications in their browsers like this YouTube video.

6.1 will also let users cut and paste text between applications...an option that wasn't available in previous versions.

The software will also support System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008. That's a server software that enterprises can use to remotely manage and secure Windows Mobile phones much the same way that they may do for laptops.

6.1 was unveiled at the CTIA wireless show in Las Vegas and will be available through a number of carriers on a variety of handsets.

Robbie Bach
That means in the United States the top 5 operators will be offering 6.1 phones. That's AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and Alltel and certainly as you go around the world there will be a variety of operators signing up as we announce these things around the world to support 6.1 in other countries.

This is the first update of Windows mobile since February 2007 and according to Microsoft, 6.1 it should be available on phones in the third quarter of this year.

For the IDG News Service I'm Nick Barber in Boston with additional reporting by Nancy Gohring.