HTC Pure with Windows Mobile 6.5

Windows Mobile 7 was supposed to be the mobile operating system that would launch Microsoft as a serious contender in the mobile market. Instead, we got Windows Mobile 6.5. One of the early phones that utilized the new operating system is the HTC Pure. This is a re-branded version of the HTC Touch Diamond2 that is using Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.5 OS.

Aesthetically, the phone looks very much like most modern smartphones. Surprisingly, unlike most Windows Mobile devices, the HTC Pure does not have a physical keyboard and that it aspires to be a purely touchscreen phone. The Pure has a 3.2 inch WVGA touchscreen capable of 800×480 resolution. The combination of HTC’s TouchFLO 3D interface and the new Windows Mobile 6.5 honeycomb start menu create a very slick way of interacting with the device.

For smartphones, applications, of course, is the deciding factor. For the HTC Pure, it comes in with two web browsers, Opera and the new Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile. The new Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile provides a fuller desktop-like browsing experience on the mobile device, including support for Adobe Flash which is lacking on previous mobile devices.

Other tools for the HTC Pure includes the new Windows Mobile 6.5 lock screen and access to the Windows Mobile app store. The new Windows Mobile lock screen does not simply lock the device while displaying some static screen or the current time, but, it also allows the user to see the calls and messages they have missed and provides the ability to navigate directly to the associated tools rather than having to browse through menus the long way.

Of course, there’s the new Windows Marketplace. This is Microsoft’s attempt to emulate the success of the Apple iPhone App Store. The online store allows users to find, buy, download, and install applications for the Windows Mobile operating system. Of course, there’s not much applications in the store as of this moment. The store is, after all, just starting. But expect to see a huge rise in numbers among the available applications as time goes by.

The Pure comes with 144Mb of data storage built-in, but you can add up to 16Gb of additional space using the microSD memory card slot. The Pure also includes a 5 megapixel autofocus camera that takes photos and records video.

The Pure delivers the Windows Mobile 6.5 experience at a lower cost than other devices, filling a niche that may help bridge the gap and broaden acceptance of Windows Mobile.