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While Windows Mobile 6.1's existence hasn't exactly been kept secret [2], it's still nice to see it out in the open: During his CTIA keynote yesterday, Microsoft President of Entertainment and Devices Robert Bach (pictured above, more photos here [3]), officially announced the coming update to the company's mobile operating system. Among the improvements that you can expect are a more streamlined home screen, threaded SMS and easier device setup. And no, you won't have to buy a new device or resort to hackery to get Windows Mobile 6.1 in your pocket: Carriers like Alltel, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile and device manufacturers including HTC, Samsung, Motorola and Pantech have announced that there will be an officially-supported upgrade path for many of their most popular devices. This is good news for owners of handsets such as the AT&T Tilt, the Sprint Mogul and the Pantech Duo, all of which will see upgrades starting this quarter.

For more on the upgrade:
- see this Engadget article [4]