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For about a year, Windows Mobile 5 device users could receive BlackBerry-style push e-mail through an Exchange server environment. With push e-mail, when a server receives messages they're automatically sent to a smartphone instead of the user having to manually pull them down or schedule retrievals at set intervals.

While Windows Mobile 6 includes this Exchange capability (known as Direct Push), it is also the first mobile-device platform from Microsoft to extend push e-mail outside the enterprise, specifically to the company's own Hotmail users.

According to a post on the MSDN Blogs, to enable push Hotmail all you need to do is follow the wizard to enter your Live credentials and configure your device to use Windows Live services (i.e. Messenger, Mail, and Contacts); click on Menu and select options; and select As Items Arrive under Sync Frequency.

Once this is done you should be all set.

Okay, Hotmail-only support is not universal by any means, but it is a first step. And, if you've got a Windows Mobile 6 smartphone, you can set it up to receive your corporate e-mail through Exchange and personal e-mail through Hotmail in a single inbox.

Now all we need is for Windows Mobile 6 PDAs and smartphone to start shipping and upgrades to the new platform for Windows Mobile 5 device uers to be made available. To learn more about the new mobile OS, click here.