You won't need Windows Mobile 6.5 to use the new My Phone service; it works with 6.1 as well. Similar to Dashwire and Flexilis but free (all you need is a Live ID), it backs up whatever you choose from your phone, including the storage card: texts, contacts, appointments, photos, videos, music and documents. You choose the schedule (and whether to sync when you're roaming) and files transfer automatically. You can view them on the Web with features like the ability to search text messages – and choose a new phone to synchronize them back to. To get My Phone for your Windows Mobile phone, you can sign up here, or wait for a new Windows Mobile phone.

Microsoft is also launching its own application store, Windows Marketplace for Mobile. You have to sign up on the Web to put in your credit card details, but then you can browse apps on your phone (by new releases, top rated apps and categories or by searching for a specific app). The service will have free and paid apps and you can see the price, check reviews, ratings and the number of downloads, then download directly on your phone.