Major changes are afoot for Microsoft's handheld synchronization software, ActiveSync, in the next-gen version of Windows, called Vista—which is due this fall. While the application continues to provide overall Windows Mobile device management for Pocket PCs and smartphones, it'll do so under a new name and look.

Windows Mobile Device Center - as ActiveSync will be called moving forward - will offer all of the features currently available in ActiveSync, but "in an effort to enhance your ability to easily and intuitively find device-related tasks and improve the overall usability of those tasks" will do so under a new and improved user interface, says a Microsoft's technology site.

The current beta of Vista includes a bare bones version of Windows Mobile Device Center, offering the same functionality of ActiveSync 4.1. So users can connect Windows Mobile-based devices using a USB cable, sync with Exchange or Outlook, install files or software, browse handheld contents from the desktop, and add media to a device from Windows Media Player.

When Vista is finally released later this year, it'll come in six flavors: Business and Enterprise; Home Basic, Home Premium and Vista Ultimate for consumers; and Starter for entry-level computers.