Microsoft yanks leaked Windows Mobile 6.5 tools

Microsoft has quickly withdrawn a test version of the Windows Mobile 6.5 software development kit (SDK), after it was accidentally posted to the web on Friday.

The SDK contained documentation, sample code, header, and library files; emulator images; and tools to build applications in Visual Studio 2008 Professional and 2005 Standard.

Other features included images of Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional featuring touch-screen smartphones and Standard edition for non-touch-screen phones, according to The Unwired.

Windows Mobile developer Joel Ivory Johnson wrote that the SDK also featured emulators for Windows Mobile 6.5.3, updating the current version of Windows Mobile. Johnson reported losing Windows Mobile 6.5 as a target platform in Visual Studio and the Windows emulator upon installing the SDK.

So, a lot of interesting content for Windows Mobile developers Microsoft, who've been without a 6.5 SDK since the official worldwide launch of the operating system in October 2009.

But Microsoft took the SDK beta down after just two days. The company said it had "prematurely posted" to the SDK 6.5 web page.

In a statement to The Reg, Microsoft said: "While the SDK was not announced or promoted, it was discovered and generated questions from the community. The beta SDK has since been removed, and to provide the best experience possible for Windows phone developers it will be reposted once final testing has been conducted. We apologize for any inconvenience.".

Microsoft is expected to unveil Windows Mobile 7, the follow-on operating system, next month at the GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. ®