Apple, Google, RIM, and Palm get most of the good press when it comes to smartphones nowadays. And yet, worldwide, Nokia's Symbian S60 platform continues to lead overall sales and Microsoft continues to churn out Windows Mobile devices with its hardware partners. The next edition of Windows Mobile, 6.5, will debut in a couple of weeks, on October 6th.

Benjamin Tan, senior director, GCR Mobile Team Unit at Microsoft China, revealed recently that there's plenty of support for Windows Mobile 6.5 from vendors and carriers.

According to DigiTimes sources, "AT&T, Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, NTT DoCoMO, Softbank Mobile, SKT, Telstra and Telus," have all express support for Windows Mobile 6.5, Tan explained..

He also revealed that 15 of Microsoft licensees plan to introduce more than 30 handsets using the platform update this year alone. See here at Brighthand for a list of some of these hardware companies and models.