Windows Phone 6.5 officially arrives today

WIndows Phone logo behind Steve Ballmer

Microsoft's latest mobile operating system, Windows Phone 6.5 makes its official debut around the world today.

The operating system, formerly known as Windows Mobile 6.5, has been rebranded and with the change of moniker comes somewhat of an image overhaul, including a set of bumper features to please consumers and business users alike.

"Windows phones bring together the best of the web, the PC and the phone so you can connect instantly to the experiences you care about, no matter where you are," Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer said back at Mobile World Congress in February when the OS was first unveiled.

"We're working with partners across the industry to deliver a new generation of Windows phones that break down the barriers between people, information and applications and provide great end-to-end experiences that span your entire life, at work and at home."

A number of those partners are expected to showcase their handsets today as part of the OS' launch. At the same time, Microsoft will also be officially open the doors to its App Store rival, Windows Marketplace.

IT PRO is attending the launch event in London and will be bringing you the news as it happens.

Check out our cheat sheet on Windows Phone 6.5 to find out more about the new operating system.

Maggie Holland

Maggie has been a journalist since 1999, starting her career as an editorial assistant on then-weekly magazine Computing, before working her way up to senior reporter level. In 2006, just weeks before ITPro was launched, Maggie joined Dennis Publishing as a reporter. Having worked her way up to editor of ITPro, she was appointed group editor of CloudPro and ITPro in April 2012. She became the editorial director and took responsibility for ChannelPro, in 2016.

Her areas of particular interest, aside from cloud, include management and C-level issues, the business value of technology, green and environmental issues and careers to name but a few.