At Mobius in Seattle there are on display all the Imates with the 6.1 version.

AkihabaraNews has the photos:
http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news_gallery.php?id=16010&img_name=Mobius_Seattle_006.jpg

Now let's see when we'll get the new Roms.

The x150 Ultimates waiting for some improvements can get their first official Rom Upgrades from www.imate.com.

It's the February 22nd version.

CTIA Wireless 2008 keynote speaker Robbie Bach, boss of MS’s Entertainment and Devices Division, announced the newest version of Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows mobile 6.1 in Las Vegas yesterday.

Most of the improvements are incremental, but support for System Centre Mobile Device Manager 2008, available immediately, and Exchange Server 2007 SP1, promises security akin to a desktop firewall. The aim is to drive large scale mobile phone deployment by businesses.

‘People want a single phone that’s flexible enough to meet their needs throughout the day,’ said Bach. ‘The innovations we’ve added to our Windows Mobile software ultimately make it easier to manage your world.’

Meanwhile, Microsoft came up with a big list of everyone who’s really into Windows Mobile 6.1 and the products are already using it:


• Mobile operators:

• Alltel Wireless: HTC PPC6800, HTC Touch

• AT&T: Samsung BlackJack II, MOTO Q 9h global, Pantech duo, AT&T Tilt by HTC

• Sprint: A new Palm Treo and updates for the Mogul by HTC, Touch by HTC, MOTO Q 9c, Samsung ACE

• T-Mobile International: T-Mobile MDA Ameo 16 GB, T-Mobile MDA compact IV


• Device-makers:

• ASUS: New phones including the P320, ZX1, P560, M536 and updates for the P527, P750, M930

• HTC: A new Touch Dual for the U.S. and updates for the AT&T Tilt, Touch by HTC, Mogul by HTC from Sprint, TyTN II

• i-mate: 8502, 9502, 8150, 6150

• Intermec: CN3

• Motorola: MOTO Q 9c, MOTO Q 9h global, MC70, MC9000

• Pantech: Pantech duo

• Samsung: BlackJack II

• Toshiba: Portégé G810,Portégé G910


Windows Mobile 6.1 will be available to mobile phone partners from Q2. The Explorer update will be available in Q3, and the first Windows Mobile phones with the new version installed by the end of 2008.

One of the Product Manager from Expansys wrote:

"We’ve heard i-mate™ will be launching a free software upgrade to the 6150 & 8150 in February that will improve battery life as well as other aspects of the overall performance. It is not unusual for companies to provide software updates to enhance product performance after launch

This software upgrade would be available on their website at www.imate.com."

Seems that at least one upgrade is on its way !

Using the good old (not updated for WM6) SPB Benchmark 1.6 I got some interesting results. The only test unable to complete was the Word so I excluded it.

I hope that we'll soon have some decent tools to compare performance on our devices.

The SPB Benchmark Index for the 6150 is: 437.68

Successfully identified and transferred. Details on forum:

http://www.ultimates.biz/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=43&post_id=270

After a long wait we do have the ultimates roms. In two flavors too: English and Arabic

This means that Imate is really improving the user experience.

Let's see the improvements:
- improved battery to 6.5 hours of talk and 4.5 videocall
- faster wake-up from stand by
- xt9 for 8150 disabled by default
- improved Wireless Manager
- better WiFi, Bluetooth
- better responsivness when answering calls
- improved performance in terms of speed and stability.

HOWTO:
- get your specific ROM from ftp://ftp.xda-developers.com//Uploads/Upload/Official i-mate x150 Phase II ROM
- create a txt file romlocklist.txt with the IMEI and the rom lock code in this format: IMEIcode,ROMlockCode
- copy FIRST the romlocklist.txt then the eum file to your formatted SD card
- ensure you have at least 80% of battery before proceeding
- reset your device by using the camera+softreset combination
- wait for the restart/completion

Enjoy

A nice forward looking and superb screenshots from the future Windows Mobile. It's due 2009.

http://microsoft.blognewschannel.com/archives/2008/01/06/exclusive-windows-mobile-7-to-focus-on-touch-and-motion-gestures/

Anyone want to see a beautiful 3d game on the WM6 ? Full HW acceleration ?

What game am I talking about ? It's about the Flame's original games: Siege and Call of Duty 2

The solution ... read and discuss here:
http://www.ultimates.biz/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=109&post_id=710#forumpost710

Here is the MobileCityOnline.com's stock alert:

Today's Date:
3/21/2008
Inventory Notification:
Now In Stock
Item # :
i-mate Ultimate 6150 Smartphone (unlocked)
Price:
$729.99
Dear Subcriber,

We are pleased to inform you that the  i-mate Ultimate 6150 Smartphone (unlocked) is now in stock. You are being notified because you signed up for our "Stock Alert" service for this item. Click on the link above to view and/or order this item on MobileCityOnline.com.