http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_archives/Buy06/images/BG_06_P7_3.jpg"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.

HP's iPAQ hx2700 (in data cradle) and Dell's Axim X51v are two of the more popular Pocket PCs currently available.

HP's iPAQ hw 6500 Mobile Messenger (top) has a square screen and built-in keyboard. Sprint's Smart Device PPC-6700 (bottom) has a slide-out QWERTY thumb keyboard. Both are Pocket PC Phone Edition devices.

The Orange SPV c550 and i-Mate SP3i: Both are Windows Mobile Smartphones.

The iRiver PMC-100 Portable Media Center.

Familiar Windows software helps you manage your life

All Windows Mobile devices come with a suite of built-in Microsoft applications that help you organize your life, plus have a little fun. These include the Calendar appointment book, Contacts manager, Tasks manager, and a Mobile version of Internet Explorer that's optimized for smaller-sized screens. Also included is an e-mail application that lets you receive, view, compose, and send electronic messages, and download or upload e-mail directly from an Internet connection. All feature a version of Windows Media Player, so that you can listen to your favorite music and watch Windows Media Format videos. They also include Voice Recorder, an application that lets you capture short voice memos; and a suite of utilities that help you configure your device and connect to an Internet service provider or another network server. Finally, they all come with ActiveSync, a desktop PC program that lets you synchronize files and data with a Windows desktop (or laptop) PC.

The Today screens on any of these devices can be customized (i.e., "skinned") with images of your choice, and display the information you want to include. In addition, recent versions of the Windows Mobile OS for the Pocket PC are capable of displaying screens in landscape mode. Shown here is the standard Today screen in portrait mode (top), the Today screen with a customized background image in landscape mode (middle). The Today screen from the Smartphone is also shown (bottom). It cannot be switched to landscape mode.

The Calendar application is similar to the one found in the desktop PC Outlook suite. It lets you keep track of appointments, set repeating appointments, view your appointments in agenda, day, week, and month views, and set alarms to remind you of your appointments. Shown here is Calendar's Day view from a Pocket PC or Phone Edition device (top) and a Smartphone (bottom).

The Inbox application lets you read and respond to e-mail. You can download and upload e-mail from your desktop PC, or use a built-in or external modem to connect directly to your ISP. Shown here is Inbox on a Pocket PC or Phone Edition device displaying the list of messages (left), and an open message with a PowerPoint Mobile attachment displayed in landscape viewing mode (middle), and an open message with attachments displayed on a Smartphone (right).

Internet Explorer Mobile lets you browse the Internet from your mobile device. It's shown here with the MSN Mobile Web site displayed, as it appears on the Pocket PC or Phone Edition devices (portrait view top, landscape view (bottom).

Windows Media Player Mobile lets you listen to WMA and MP3 digital music and view Windows Media Video-formatted movies. Shown here is Media Player as found on the Pocket PC and Phone Edition devices (top) and on the Smartphone (bottom).

In spite of all these similarities, there are significant hardware and software differences. Selecting the appropriate Windows Mobile device requires some careful consideration.

Pocket PCs-Information in your pocket

Do you need to have your important information with you all the time? Do you want a small device you can slip in and out of your pocket to check your e-mail, appointments or contacts, to take brief notes, or to enter small amounts of data? Do you want a full set of productivity application similar to the ones you find on your desktop PC? If so, you might want to take a serious look at a Pocket PC.

It's true that you can do these things with a small notebook PC. But even the smallest notebook weighs 1 to 2 pounds and requires a briefcase or shoulder bag to carry it around. Pocket PCs are 5- to 8-ounce devices that slip easily into a coat pocket or purse. A Pocket PC may be all you need. If you like the idea of a small device that you can carry with you all the time, but you still need to use a keyboard occasionally, there are Pocket PCs and Phone Edition devices with built-in keyboards. Optional external keyboards are available for those that don't.

All Pocket PCs have USB and infrared ports for connectivity. In addition, many come with Wi-Fi (802.11b) and/or Bluetooth wireless capability already built in. All Pocket PCs come with at least one built-in SD expansion card slot, and some come with an additional CompactFlash slot. Card slots allow you to add storage memory and input/output devices such as modems, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth adapters, digital cameras, and more.

In addition to the software mentioned above, the latest Pocket PCs come with a Mobile version of Microsoft Word and Excel, Media Player, a note taker/voice memo recorder, an image viewer, a simple calculator, Solitaire, and the puzzle game Bubble Breaker (it was called "Jawbreaker" in earlier versions of the OS). The PowerPoint Mobile presentation viewer and Pocket MSN, a mobile extension of Microsoft Network services such as Hotmail and MSN Spaces, were added to the software suite with the release of Windows Mobile 5.0. In addition, Pocket PCs include a number of text-entry utilities that recognize characters you've entered on the touch screen with your stylus, and a variety of connectivity and setup utilities. Pocket PCs with built-in phones, the "Phone Edition" devices, also include a dialer application that supports the phone capabilities of the devices.

"Mobile" versions of Microsoft PowerPoint (portrait view top) and Excel (landscape view bottom), and Word (not shown) are built into all Pocket PCs.

Pictures & Video lets you display JPG images in thumbnail view (portrait view above), and full view (landscape view bottom). The Windows Mobile 5.0 version of the program also displays the WMV videos you have in your folder and lets you launch them from the application. You can also use this application to select an image as your Today screen background.

Pocket PCs come with the Solitaire card game (portrait view top) and the puzzle game Jawbreaker (landscape view bottom).