A reader asked me on my final thoughts post about Widgets in Windows Phone 6.5, (thanks Steve). While I admit I had heard of them before I though it was only in a shell installed over Windows Mobile by an OEM. Well as usual I was wrong. Windows Phone does indeed have a Widget Engine installed. Click past the Break to see what the Windows Phone team has to say

Starting on 6.5 though we are adding a new option for developers out there… “Windows Mobile Widgets”.

A good way to think of a Windows Mobile Widget is as a “Portable chunk of the web” or just basically a rich internet application.  Widgets are written using all the web technologies we know and love (HTML, CSS, AJAX, JavaScript) and, since they are powered under the covers by our new internet browser, they have full access to flash and other ActiveX controls available on the device (Like MediaPlayer).

The interesting thing about our Widget Platform is that it allows them to look and feel, to the end user, as a normal standalone application does; they have their own start menu icon, they show up as an individual apps in task manager and, most importantly, they have full control of the SK menu bar as any other application would (just easier :) ).

In the case of the Pure I have found MSN Money, Weather, Mobile Banking, Newsbreak, Facebook, Mobitv, WikiMobile and at&t Online locker. Here are some screen Shots.

Some are free and some are subscription based services, but all link to what is describe above as an“Portable chunk of the web”.  So what do you think, is this a good addition to Windows Phone? I personally think so but like many things Microsoft does they have been pretty quiet about it. If you would like to know more about Developing Widgets for the Mobile platform you can find out here.

Update: You can search for more Widgets if you go to Programs, tools, search widgets. Go to the directory and search through the categories.