Well, this is what Digitimes is actually reporting. They claim to have a source at a handset maker in Taiwan who is stating that Windows Mobile 6.5 is launching on October 1, followed by a more finger optimized version in February 2010 and then Windows Mobile 7 in Q4 2010. They are also saying that Windows Mobile 6.5 will go down in price and be aimed at the low end android market ,while Windows Mobile 7 will compete against the iPhone.

Microsoft plans to adopt a dual platform strategy to promote its Windows Mobile OS (operating system) so as to take aims at both Android- and iPhone-based platforms, according to sources at Taiwan handset makers.

Microsoft is expected to officially launch Windows Mobile 6.5 on October 1, 2009 and add an upgrade version with a touch interface in February 2010, the sources indicated citing Microsoft roadmap.

Microsoft will not phase out Windows Mobile 6.5 from the market but will lower the OS price, when it launches Windows Mobile 7 scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2010, the sources added.

The dual-platform strategy will allow Microsoft to compete with Android-based platform using Windows Mobile 6.5 and also compete with iPhones leveraging Windows Mobile 7, the sources asserted.

I’m doubting the accuracy of the timeline (not the fact that 6.5 & 7 are going to coexist) givin how Windows Mobile 7 is strongly rumored to be on track for a November RTM and also the Feb 2010 launch of a finger optimized 6.5 sounds fishy. As we have seen on the news implementations (HTCMagnifier, etc..) are already on board of the the latest HTC roms. Anything is possible though and Digitimes might be right..

Source: DigiTimes