Microsoft today announced that Windows Mobile 6.5 would begin shipping on October 6th. Carriers like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, Bell and TELUS, and manufacturers like HTC, Samsung, HP, LG and Toshiba will start shipping phones based on Windows Mobile 6.5 in October.

Microsoft introduced Windows Mobile 6.5 update at Mobile World Congress in February. The update brings improved touch friendly user interface, Windows Marketplace for Mobile (online app store), new Internet Explorer Mobile browser with Adobe Flash Lite support and enhanced multimedia applications.

Microsoft posted on Windows Mobile Blog “There is no “one size fits all” in this market. On Oct. 6th, you’ll see new Windows phones designed for a variety of tastes, needs and price points – with or without keyboards, with or without touchscreens, as well as you choice of GPS, accelerometer and high resolution camera.”

We believe that Windows Mobile 6.5 is dead before it’s even released because it’s not much different from Windows Mobile 6.1. Once you open an application it has the same usability problems that previous generation of Windows Mobile OS users faced. Microsoft needs to come up with completely new user interface soon, if it wants to survive in mobile phone market. Already just two iPhone models iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are outselling the complete Windows Mobile lineup (more than 50 models) by various manufacturers.