What is Windows Mobile?

"Windows Mobile" is the brand name Microsoft uses with the operating system and software applications it developed for handheld computers. Most of the devices described in this magazine come with a version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system (OS) and a suite of Windows Mobile productivity and multimedia applications built-in and ready to use. The Windows Mobile OS and applications are "embedded" programs, which means that Microsoft licenses them to the companies that manufacture the handhelds (known as "original equipment manufacturers" or "OEMs"), and they build them into the devices that they manufacture. With the exception of system-wide upgrades offered by some OEMs, the Windows Mobile software cannot be deleted or reinstalled by the handheld user.

This Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine Buyer's Guide describes the Windows Mobile software and the handhelds currently available in the U.S. that incorporate it. These small, full-featured computing devices and personal organizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a variety of features.

This article describes the four major types of Windows Mobile handhelds and the Microsoft applications built that ship with them.

Windows Mobile handhelds

In this article we look at the following Windows Mobile devices:

The Pocket PC—a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) based on the Windows Mobile OS and software. It fits in the palm of your hand and is powered by a rechargeable battery that allows you to use the device for at least a full day (in most situations) before recharging. Information is entered into the Pocket PC with a small pen-like "stylus" which is used with the color "touch screen." The Pocket PC was originally introduced in April of 2000. The most recent version of the software was released in late summer of 2005. This latest version of the software is formally known as "Windows Mobile 5.0." The previous version of the software was "Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition." The majority of the devices found in the retail channel use one of these two versions of the software.

The Pocket PC Phone Edition device—a Pocket PC with a mobile phone built into it. This allows the user to make phone calls and connect to wireless data services. In addition to the standard Pocket PC applications, the built-in software includes a dialer application that supports the mobile phone capability. A few Windows Mobile 5.0 devices had been announced when this issue closed in September 2005, but the majority of the available Phone Edition devices use Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software. We refer to these as "Phone Edition devices."

The Windows Mobile Smartphone—a mobile phone with built in PDA functions. The Phone Edition device described in the previous paragraph looks like a Pocket PC, but has a mobile phone built into it. The Windows Mobile Smartphone looks and functions more like a mobile phone, but includes PDA functionality similar to the Pocket PC but optimized for the Smartphone format.

As with the Phone Edition devices described above, a few Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphones had been announced when we went to press. But the majority of the available Smartphones use the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software for Smartphones. We refer to these devices as "Smartphones" (with a capital "S"). Devices using competing operating systems are identified as "smartphones" (with a lower-case "s").

The Windows Mobile Portable Media Centers—a Windows Mobile-based handheld that is slightly larger than the Pocket PC, and is designed for storing and playing back visual and audio media. These powerful devices include high resolution color displays approximately the same size as those found on Pocket PCs. In addition, they provide 20 gigabytes or more of media file storage, provided by a small, internal hard disk drive built into the device. Its massive storage capability allows you to bring all the media you want with you, wherever you go. For example, the 20 GB drive can hold over 80 hours of video, 5,000 songs, or 25,000 JPEG photos.