Windows Mobile devices have been notoriously hard (and expensive) to upgrade, since device manufacturers have traditionally had to buy licenses from Microsoft, customize the new OS, and test it before sending it out on its merry way.

Some good news are on the horizon, however, as Microsoft has apparently seen fit to address the concerns of Windows Mobile PDA owners regarding all of the hassle that they have to endure when upgrading their operating systems.

The company is giving free licenses to vendors who issue upgrades for their devices. This means that you won't have to buy a new chip or jump through flaming hoops just to upgrade your PDA to Windows Mobile 6.

What it DOESN'T mean, however, is that the upgrade will be free. While the licenses themselves are free, manufacturers may still choose to charge their customers for upgrading.

It has yet to be made clear what the manufacturers will do about this, or how much they will charge for their services.