Recently, T-Mobile Dash users received a free upgrade to version 6 from version 5 of Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system. This means, among other things, that instead of a Windows Smartphone, the Dash is now a Windows Standard device.

There are many advantages to upgrading your Dash’s mobile-device platform. Not the least of which is being able to synchronize files—a feature long available to Pocket PC Phones, but for some reason not extended to Windows Smartphones. As those who own a Pocket PC know, file syncing allows you to drag a document, for example, into a folder and have it automatically synchronized between a desktop and a handheld or smartphone.

Sounds great, right? There's a snag. In order for this feature to work, you need to be syncing your Windows Standard device with Windows XP and not Windows Vista.

Why? Because file synchronization for devices like the Dash running Windows Mobile 6 is currently only supported by ActiveSync 4.5—Microsoft's desktop synchronization software for Windows XP PCs. If you're syncing your device with a Windows Vista desktop, then you must use Redmond's new Windows Mobile Device Center. The problem is file synchronization for Windows Standard devices is not supported by this application.

It is kind of strange that Microsoft left this feature out of Windows mobile Device Center. After all, Windows Mobile Standard (Smartphone) devices like the Dash can now edit Microsoft Office files under Windows Mobile 6. Integrating the technology in Windows Mobile Device Center to have these and other documents sync would make keeping Word, Excel and PowerPoint docs up-to-date when edited on either the desktop or handheld much simpler for Windows Vista users.

Thus far Microsoft has not said why it left this feature out of Windows Mobile Device Center, while including it in ActiveSync 4.5. And there's no word as to whether or not it'll add it soon to the software. We'll keep you posted.

More on Windows Mobile Device Center
Windows Mobile Device Center provides overall Windows Mobile device management for Pocket PCs and smartphones (Classic, Standard and Professional devices under Windows Mobile ) with a new look and what Microsoft has touted as a simplified and improved user interface.

Windows Vista automatically downloads Windows Mobile Device Center when you initially connect a Windows Mobile device. Or you can download and install the software directly from Microsoft here. Microsoft says future versions will become available as a Windows Update.