An Adaptation kit upgrade (AKU or Adaptation kit update) is a way of updating Microsoft's Windows Mobile.
It is a collection of updates, fixes and enhancements to the tools delivered to hardware device manufacturers to create or update devices based on a specific platform.
This term is used by Microsoft to designate the current update version for a particular embedded platform such as Windows Mobile which is used for Personal digital assistants and Smartphone devices. On the Windows Mobile platform the AKU is to Windows Mobile what a Service Pack is to Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft releases AKUs to allow device manufacturers with updates to create new products or fix issues with older products. These enhancements are usually not available to the consumer or end user unless released as a firmware update from the vendor.
landscape screen mode support
start devices without a SIM card
checking for incoming mail at defined intervals
full-fledged SIM contacts support
added fixed dialing numbers
added alarm clock indicator to today screen
added ability to send SMS while viewing call history
Improves support for many Bluetooth profiles, such as stereo headset (A2DP)
Wi-Fi connectivity now displays more status information. Wi-Fi performance improved.
official hard drive support
increased screen rotation speed
Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP), including DirectPush email functionality and GZIP compression
Internet Explorer Mobile adds accelerated scrolling, Fast Back feature, support for compiled WML, WMLScript over HTTP, enhanced DOM standard and frames
added SMIME support for messaging
added wireless manager to turn wireless features on and off
replaced clock with battery status indicator in the upper right corner
dynamic switching between screen modes (landscape and portrait).
ActiveSync improvements.
boot speed improvements.
allows user to choose clock or battery status indicator in the upper right corner
added support for PPP over USB
decreased boot time
bug fixes.
bug fixes.
SmartDial from the Today screen
added ability to change dialing font color
(up to 2x) for video clips played back in Windows Media Player.
language provisioning (enabling local manufacturers to add as many languages to a device as its onboard memory can store)
WiFi connection wizard (new Internet Sharing utility replaces Modem Link).
WPA2 support for WiFi
Quick start wizard
support for 2nd display (for instance on phones with two displays)
better SMS handling
Bluetooth profile "Personal Area Network" (PAN) is added, and "Dial-Up Networking" (DUN) profile is removed.
vCard contacts can be transferred via SMS.
SIM card contacts are sorted by Name in general contacts list.
IE now supports AJAX
added .Net Compact Framework 2.0
added ability to save SMS to SIM card
added support for SMS over GPRS
updated Bluetooth stack that opens up even more tethered connectivity options
Included in the Samsung Omnia SCH-i910 (for Verizon Wireless) CF03 software upgrade [1]
Included in the Samsung Saga SCH-i770 (for Verizon Wireless) CE07 software upgrade [2]
One example: [3]
IE Mobile upgraded to 6.12
One example is listed in the ATT Tilt rom upgrade: [4]
Latest and the last update for Windows Mobile from Microsoft. Released on Dec 2010. AKU Build 23148
AKU Build 23145
AKU Build 21840
AKU Versions for Windows Embedded Handheld
It is important to note that Windows Mobile is succeeded by Windows Phone in consumer electronics segment and Windows Embedded Handheld for industrial electronics. Windows Embedded Handheld starts with AKU 5.3.12. Windows Embedded Handheld is meant to carry on the Windows Mobile for rugged handhelds and is only a change in AKU over Windows Mobile 6.5. Unlike Windows Phone, WEH is compatible with WM 6.5.
AKU Build 29049
AKU Build 29036
AKU Build 29023
