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While there have been rumblings that HTC and Qualcomm aren't quite the BFFs they used to be, Digitimes is reporting [via] that HTC is going to stick with the chipmaker at least long enough to push out a device sporting the snappy Snapdragon processor. The Snapdragon, as you may recall, is probably the most exciting thing about that Toshiba TG01 -- because as we said yesterday during the podcast, the custom interface leaves much to be desired. Also, that TG01 may not even make it to the states anyway.

Back to HTC, the device is apparently set for the 2nd quarter of 2009, which means it's anybody's guess as to whether or not they'll deign to show it off at MWC09. Also anybody's guess, which device in the massive HTC 2009 line-up leak we're looking at here. We figure it could actually be more than one, but a proc like the Snapdragon would be a good fit for a media-centric device like the above-pictured Whitestone W

Microsoft's upcoming service offerings, more 6.5 screenshots, rumored devices, and more. Listen in!

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After the completion of the hectic Smartphone Round Robin, your faithful bloggers at Smartphone Experts decided to keep things moving along at a heady clip. In the past week we have published somewhere in the neighborhood of 175 stories, from accessory and software reviews to news to the latest rumors. That's a lot to keep track of, so we're bringing back our regular "Around SPE" feature to give you a quick summary of what you may have missed in a format that's more helpful than just a list of links.

In that vein, our biggest recent news is that our newest sister site, Nokia Experts is starting strong with a launch contest. If you would like to earn some chances at winning a Nokia E71 or Nokia N85, make sure to enter the contest each week. There are two weeks left to go, so check back as each week we're changing up how you can enter to win!

There's plenty more smartphone news you may have missed, so read on!

Just a little while ago we mentioned how WM6.5 (early, pre-release) was being ported over for CDMA phones and that we can expect a newer, updated WM6.5 ROM to be coming out. Well that day is here.

Once again, Conflipper at ppcgeeks has manged to not only get his hands on but post some screen shots of what's new.

The now infamous "honeycomb" launcher is there, but not running smoothly, which tells us that some hardware graphics accelartion may be needed.  We also see that Windows Media Player gets a healthy and welcomed makeover, resulting in a much more thumb friendly UI.

Perhaps the biggest news though is the inclusion of MyPhone, Marketplace (something we were expecting) and also the unheard of (until now) "Outlook Live" application.  Glancing over the screenshot, it appears that this new service will allow you to sync multiple e-mail accounts.  For those who remember, MS had launched an "Outlook Live" service back in 2005 as a way to sync up your hotmail and Outlook account information into one single area, unifying the services.  Then the test program was seemingly canceled, with promises of a return to something in the future.  Perhaps that day is now approaching with a re-vamped version in WM6.5?

Also, cryptically someting referred to as "WMwidgets" was also found, though we're not what that exactly is yet.

We'll post more info as it comes about, until then take a look at some more WM6.5 screenies after the jump.

Thanks Conflipper!

After the pre-emptive "unveiling" of the My Phone Dashwire-alike syncing service yesterday, Microsoft has gone ahead and copped to the entire thing in a statement:

Today, Microsoft’s My Phone Web site went live prior to its scheduled debut. However, we are excited about the new Microsoft My Phone service, which will be available as a limited, invite-only beta. This is a significant milestone for Microsoft as it connects the phone to the PC and Web, making mobility a key pillar for the company’s software+services strategy.

This new Microsoft cloud service syncs critical information (e.g., contacts, calendar appointments, tasks, text messages, photos, video, etc) on a user’s mobile phone to  a password protected Web site.  Once synchronized, people can easily back-up and restore mobile phone data.  My Phone provides an easy to use Web portal where people can access and manage content on the phone, and share that information with others.

My Phone helps people:

• Keep their information backed up if they lose or break their phones.

• Transition information if they switch to new phones.

• Access the same information from their phone or PC.

• Additional  information about the service can be found here:  www.windowsmobile.com/myphone

We will have more details about My Phone and the limited invite only beta at Mobile World Congress.

Sounds good to us -- and it also sounds like Microsoft is starting to get serious about this whole services thing.  Although we're interested in this whole My Phone service, we do wonder how it fits in to the larger Live Services strategy. As for the details and who's getting an invite to the beta, we'll be waiting until MWC for that.

Same bird. Same honeycomb. Only much larger pics this time, and in Chinese, from 592ppc.com (page translated here). And we see what looks like a games folder. (Or should we call it a cell?) This was running on a Dopod HTC Touch Pro. Any Chinese readers see anything else?

The (expected) unveiling of WM6.5 at Mobile World Congress just can't come soon enough.

We've known for a while now that there RIM has been working on the BlackBerry Application Suite for Windows Mobile. We saw a blurry video (since taken down), and a lone pic. It now seems like things have picked up some steam, as BGR reports  beta testing is going on.

The latest:

• BAS is only running on the HTC Touch Pro/Fuze and the TyTn. GSM only, folks.
• Internal GPS is a go, so BlackBerry Maps and other location-based services should work.
• PIN-to-PIN messaging and BlackBerry messaging work.

This won't turn your Windows Mobile phone into a BlackBerry. Phone calls are still handled on the WinMo side. Same goes for Bluetooth and external GPS. Pictures still go to the default "My Pictures" folder. (Hey, that's a niggle for us, too.) Music is still janky, and MMS and SMS don't play well together from BAS to the WinMo side.

Obviously these early leaks are a long way from an actual hands-on. But for the moment, it sounds like BAS isn't going to replace the full-on BlackBerry experience anytime soon.

We've struggled in the past to figure out the logic behind Microsoft's naming conventions. And about a year a go we thought things were going to get better.

More recently, we learned of the upcoming cloud services – Skybox, Skyline and Skymarket. See the pattern?

But an Engadget tipster may have thrown a bit of a wrench into that small sliver of sanity. Getskybox.com has made an appearance, though you can't actually sign up yet. (And you may be met by a certificate error. Just plow through that.) And there the service gets a new name: Microsoft My Phone. Run file facepalm.exe now.

You can, however, go to the "More info" page, where we learn the following:

• The service will be for Windows Mobile 6 (and up) phones.
• You'll get 200 megabytes of storage space. Interesting, because the Live Mesh beta currently gives you 5 gigabytes.
• The service will be free "at this time."
• You'll download an app to your phone. (The install link on the page doesn't work at the time of this writing.)
• Back up your contacts, calendar, photos and other info to the MS cloud.
• Access your contacts and calendar online.
• Share photos.

Obviously we're not privy to all of the app's settings yet, but it looks like the default will be to sync your data once a day, between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Hope that's customizable.

So, for now, we're going to try not to be distracted by what could turn out to be another abomination of a branding scheme and instead focus on the services. And ponder how much of this may be built in to Windows Mobile 7, or, hopefully, 6.5.

Update: Yeah, the site was down for a while. It's back up now, sans log-in links. lol.