The latest version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile is now available for the first time in the UK. The new HTC HD2 is one of the first new handsets to reach our shores sporting the new software.

Microsoft says that the new version offers an improved Home screen, better web browsing with Internet Explorer Mobile 6, better media playback, more customisation options and links to Social Networking Applications.

It also has the major business benefit of being able to connect to Microsoft Exchange, the email server, and continuously synchronise all your work email on to your handset. While you are out of the office, you can check your emails, view attachments, forward to colleagues or send replies. As the email is constantly updated back to the server, when you are back in the office the messages you have read or deleted will be appropriately marked, and the items you have sent will be safely in your sent items.

Initial reviews of the new software are positive, and Microsoft will be hoping to steal market share from their main mobile email competitor, Blackberry, while combating the growth of Google's Android operating system.

You can see more about the new operating system on Microsoft's Windows Mobile Site.