Microsoft have officially announced Windows Phone (a new name for latest version of Windows Mobile, version 6.5), Microsoft My Phone (an online backup service for Windows Phones) and Windows Marketplace (an on-device app store).

The new Windows Phone introduces a honeycomb launcher GUI which can be organized with often-used applications to the top of the screen. It also has customizable widgets and improved browsing via Internet Explorer Mobile 6.5.

Microsoft My Phone itself offers around 200MB of storage, for contacts, text messages, calendar entries, photos, videos and other media, as well as offering the ability to send out content from the My Phone web interface.  My Phone will allow you to back-up text messages online, freeing up space on the Windows Device but keeping a record.

Regarding Windows Marketplace, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer said,  there are over 20,000 apps already for Windows Mobile, meaning that now Microsoft will give developers a way to better distribute and publicise their software.

So far, availability on new Windows Mobile devices is still unclear.

[via SlashGear]