In the race to the finish line to see which smartphone OS comes out on top, Apple is pushing forth with the next generation iPhone Firmware–3.0, which is a big operating system improvement from the current Firmware 2.2.1. Microsoft recently announced Windows Mobile 6.5 at Mobile World Congress and its partners have also announced a variety of devices utilizing different form factors with added capabilities. We’ll just have to wait and see what the competition has to offer when Cupertino offers an advanced preview on March 17. According to Engadget Mobile, this will just allow developers to see what Apple is working on; an actual release won’t happen on or near that date. Did Microsoft make Windows Mobile 6.5 easy and intuitive enough to give Windows Phone devices a commanding lead when they are released or will Apple close the gap with 3.0?