3GSM mobile software announcements; Co-Pilot Live 7, YouTube on Nokia, and Windows Live mobile

Lots of devices and the new Windows Mobile 6 operating system were announced at 3GSM this year, but there was also plenty to talk about in regards to software and services. ALK Technologies announced that CoPilot Live 7 would be coming this spring for Windows Mobile 6, Nokia announced that YouTube videos would be coming to Nseries devices, and Microsoft took off the beta tag and released three new Windows Live products for mobile devices.

ALK Technologies develops a very powerful GPS navigation and mapping application with their CoPilot Live programs and it was good to see them come out with an announcement for Windows Mobile 6 support. CoPilot Live 7 will work with both Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices. CoPilot Live 7 provides 2D and 3D map views, text-to-speech voice directions in 13 languarges, real-time mobile location tracking and the ability to send your location using SMS or MMS, real-time traffic in the U.S., and new walking and cycling guidance modes with speed limit alerts. They also checked and updated 750,000 miles of road to make the product as accurate as possible. CoPilot Live 7 will be available this spring.

YouTube videos are very popular and their short format makes them perfect for viewing on a mobile device when you have a couple minutes here and there to watch video content. Nokia's high end Nseries devices support 3G and WiFi (most devices) and Nokia announced that YouTube videos will be accessible using the awesome S60 3rd Edition Nokia Web Browser with Mini Map feature through a new YouTube mobile site that will be launched soon. YouTube video RSS feeds will also be supported in the new Nokia Video Center application. I was having a bit of trouble with the Nokia N93 lately, but just updated the firmware to version 2.0 and it is running smoothly now. I plan to get YouTube content on the N93 and use the TV out cable and functionality to then watch YouTube videos on my home and hotel TVs.

The Nokia Video Center will be available soon and will be preinstalled on the Nokia N95. Most Nseries devices will also support the application with some other selected S60 devices being supported.

Live Search for Windows Mobile and Live Search for Java are now available in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Live Search allows you to find local listings and view maps, as well as traffic status in selected major cities. GPS support is included with Live Search and as long as you have a data connection there is getting less and less of a need for a dedicated mapping and navigation program. Mobile phones like the very popular Motorola RAZR, LG, and Samsung phones with Java support can also download and use Live Search functionality. You can visit the Live Search site to see if your device is supported and visit http://wls.live.com directly from your mobile browser to get started.

Windows Live for Windows Mobile includes Live Hotmail, Live Messenger, Live Spaces, and Live Search and are included in the ROM of Windows Mobile 6 devices. If you have a Windows Mobile 5 device then you can download and install Windows Live for free. Windows Live Hotmail actually provides push email to your device through your Live Hotmail account. Windows Live Messenger is much improved and brings the desktop experience to a mobile device. I couldn't stand the previous MSN Messenger and have now gone back to using Live Messenger. Windows Live Spaces allows you to access your space and your friends space and upload photos and videos directly from your mobile device. Windows Live Search provides all the functionality of the stand-alone Live Search appliation discussed above. You can visit the above link or go to mobile.live.com right from your device browser to get started.