Windows Mobile 6.6 to bring capacitive support, delays 7.0 even further?

We’ve been expecting to see some Windows Mobile 7 news at MWC next month and we hope we still do. However, today we heard from Digitimes that Windows Mobile 6.6 is set to launch in February. Windows mobile 6.6 details are still vague but native capacitive support seems to be on the agenda. Capacitive screens are currently the leading trend for interaction with touch screen devices like the iPhone, Palm Pre, and every Android phone on the market. Though capacitive is said to be less accurate, it is easier to use and takes quite a bit less effort compared to a resistive screen. A good example of this is the new HD 2. The HTC HD 2 has a capacitive touch screen that was implemented by HTC rather than Microsoft. It makes a huge difference in usability on the new Sense interface compared to a device like the Touch Pro 2. Does a February launch of Windows Mobile 6.6 mean no Windows Mobile 7?

I don’t think so. Windows Mobile 7 is said to launch in late 2010. Digitimes says that Microsoft may now delay Windows Mobile 7 to late 2011. This seems a bit dramatic if its based on the notion that 6.6 is coming out next month. Microsoft has definitely been working on Windows Mobile 7 for a long time now and the fact that they are implementing native capacitive support just tells me they need to have decent products to tie them over before the launch of Windows Mobile 7 at the end of the year. The HTC HD has capacitive and due to the native support from Microsoft we are thinking the HD2 will be only one of many.