Yes for once it looks like Microsoft may be sticking to one of it’s promises - ‘to provide annual updates of their mobile platform’. Currently known by the codename ‘crossbow’ mobile 6.0 will have built in IM, strong links with Office 2007 and Exchange 12, Microsoft’s pending new office application suite and e-mail server, said Pieter Knook, senior vice president for the mobile devices and telecoms sector. Although he would not give a definate date for the release of crossbow and commented that opperators often need as long as 6 to 12 months to test a new OS. So don’t expect anything before 2007.

Pieter Knook also said that the opperator testing was almost complete for the push e-mail capability of Windows Mobile 5.0, Microsoft’s slow assault against BlackBerry e-mail that may now start to bear fruit. The company’s new push e-mail capability depended on software upgrades on the telecom operators’ side, as well as new versions of Exchange Server 2003 and Windows Mobile 5.0.

Those upgrades are nearly complete, Knook said. “You’re getting to the point right now where this quarter is really where the whole offer comes together,” he said.

Microsoft is hoping to nudge BlackBerry aside on costs and convenience for administrators. Knook estimates an enterprise deploying mobile e-mail with 20,000 users could save $1.5 million in software purchases alone, plus additional costs on licensing over BlackBerry, he said.

Microsoft is counting on strong connections with device manufacturers to strengthen its position with those enterprises already using Exchange but with a BlackBerry server. The new push e-mail feature would enable those companies to eliminate the BlackBerry middleware, which also consolidates their support structure, Knook said.