Microsoft announced a new version of Windows Mobile at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, bumping it up from 6.1 to 6.5. I spent a few minutes toying with the new operating system. Here are my initial thoughts.Windows Mobile 6.5 brings some welcome changes to the Windows Mobile platform. These changes are directed more at the touch version of WinMo -- also known as Windows Mobile Professional -- rather than the standard version.

It brings with it a new home screen with integrated view of your today screen, missed messages, and calendar appointments.

Gone are the "Start" and "Programs" menus. Now, the main menu is one giant list of applications, features, and folders. This is great! Microsoft has flattened the UI, and it is much easier to find programs, applications, and content stored on the phone. The main menu, which uses hexagon-shaped buttons, can be entirely controlled and configured by users, allowing them to make the device and UI their own.

Microsoft also has made everything bigger. All the images, graphics, icons, and menu items are larger, which makes them more finger friendly. Microsoft said the goal was to enable users to interact with the phone solely with their fingers. Use of the stylus is no longer required.

Microsoft did some neat things with the unlock buttons on the home screen. When you miss a call or a text message, there will be a notification on the home screen. You can unlock the phone and go directly to that missed call or message if you wish, rather than having to take multiple steps to do the same thing. This is a nice touch.

All of these points are welcome updates to the Windows Mobile platform.

However, the guts of the OS haven't been changed. It's based on the same core code, and this shows from time to time.

Despite the improvements, Microsoft still is playing catch-up here. The iPhone, Palm's webOS, and even Android out-gun Windows Mobile 6.5 in usability.

The really bad news is that this new platform won't be in customer hands until the end of 2009. That's just too, too late.