IT cloning software for Windows Mobile 6.1 devices and below has been launched by Sprite Software, which reported its Windows Mobile backup solution is in use by more than 10 million users of the Microsoft mobile operating system.

Announced last week by the New Zealand-based software firm, Sprite Clone 6.5 enables IT departments to mass deploy various performance improvements across multiple users. "Sprite Clone 6.5 (offers) an organization the ability to mass deploy corporate applications, security configurations, and other policy-approved customizations in a fraction of the time and budget of setting devices up manually," said Kevin O'Toole, Sprite's head of enterprise sales, in a statement.

Clone 6.5 can be used to mass deploy a broad range of Pocket PCs and smartphones operating in heterogeneous environments while distributing identical images to multiple mobile devices to assure consistency across multiple user configurations.

The new software use the engine of Sprite Backup 6.5 and additional cloning software to enable consistent deployment also of older Microsoft Mobile operating system software, including devices using mobile Windows Mobile 5.0, Windows Mobile 6.0, Windows Mobile 6.1, Pocket PC, and other smartphone operating systems.

Sprite said as many as 300 devices can be configured in one hour with the software. Citing use of the cloning application by Microsoft, Sprite said Microsoft has used its cloning product in hundreds of Staples, Best Buy, and other retail electronics stores to provide consistency across the different locations.

"This was a multiprongedproject involving store fixture manufacturers, device manufacturers, creative agencies, writers and training experts," Sprite observed.