Microsoft India has lined up new handsets for the Indian market making use of its newly launched Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system with a promise to make the end-user experience much more enhanced by offering a easy-to-use, customizable user interface as well as an enhanced browsing experience.

The MyPhone service offers for free an in-built 200 MB online storage as a backup- for contacts  and phone information such as SMSes, photos etc. The service automatically synchronizes a phone’s content to a password-protected Web site.

The Marketplace service aims to ease the process of search for Microsoft Certified mobile applications for consumers. It also offers developers an opportunity to reach out to the consumers.

The new models using the new services and Windows Mobile 6.5 version in India include, Acer Be Touch E100, Acer Be Touch E101, Acer Neo Touch S200, Acer Be Touch E200 and HTC Touch 2. The price of these handsets starts from Rs 11,000/-

Users of HTC Diamond 2, HTC Touch Pro 2, LG Eigen and Samsung Omnia Pro which currently use Windows Mobile 6.1can upgrade to the new operating system 6.5 version. By year-end Microsoft plans to have 20 handsets featuring the 6.5 version.

“We are delighted to offer the all new Windows Phone, powered by Windows Mobile 6.5 to consumers in India. Windows Phones have been designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s consumer who moves seamlessly between work and play,” says Mr. Hemant Sachdev, Joint Managing Director – Consumer & Online, Microsoft India. He further added, “Today consumers want to stay connected and updated on the people and information they care about most, and Windows Phones blend in the best of the Phone, PC and web. A great example of this is the new My Phone service available today, with which users can be assured that their contacts and data is safe even if the device is lost or damaged!”

Phones based on the new Windows operating system will be equipped with Windows Internet Explorer Mobile browser having built-in Adobe Flash lite promising to offer mobile web browsing experience as close to on a PC. The models also have Microsoft Office Mobile preloaded. Consumers can use the Custom Theme Creator feature to create personalized themes.

Ajay Sharma, Country Head, HTC India says, “Continuing with our successful partnership with Microsoft, today we feel delighted to launch the new HTC Touch 2 that will run on the latest Windows Mobile 6.5 version. The HTC Touch 2 is a compact Windows Phone which delivers the HTC familiar touch experience to its users. With its attractive design the phone is a stylish successor to the immensely popular HTC Touch.”

“We are extremely delighted to partner with Microsoft in the evolutions of smart phones. Windows 6.5 will bring immense value to the mobile phone consumer”, says Richard Tan, Country Manager, Acer Smart Handhelds India. “Our alliance with Microsoft signifies our commitment to the mobile space and we will continue to bring wide choice of stylish, sophisticated smart phones with enhanced features and excellent quality of service.”