Microsoft to Offer Free Windows Mobile 6 Upgrade for Device Manufacturers

In what might be just the impetus Palm needs to release a Windows Mobile 6 (or, maybe not) update for their older 700w/wx Treos, Download Squad are reporting that Microsoft are offering free WM6 licenses. These licenses are being handed out by Microsoft to their device partners wishing to release OS upgrades for their existing devices.

This strategy could benefit device manufacturers such as Palm in several ways. Tthe hardware companies could pass the savings directly along to their customers and offer the upgrade at no charge. Or the hardware suppliers could charge the customer for the OS license that is provided at no charge to them, realizing substantial profits in the process.

The rub in all of this is that OS upgrades for smartphones (regardless of OS) are required to pass a stringent and tedious carrier approval process. This essentially leaves niche unlocked WM5 devices and the handful of remaining WM5 PDAs as the only suitable destinations for these "free" WM 6 dates. Treo 700w and 700wx owners should be cautioned to not hold their breaths while waiting on a free Treo 700w/wx update to be released.

As of this writing Palm has not made any sort of official announcement about their Windows Mobile 6 upgrade plans outside of the Microsoft presentation from 3GSM about vague plans for a Treo 750 update, as reported here earlier.