| A Pocket PC, abbreviated P/PC or PPC, is | | | | others. Past Pocket PC operating systems |
| a specification for a handheld-sized | | | | include Pocket PC 2002 (launched October |
| computer (Personal digital assistant) | | | | 2001) and Pocket PC 2000 (launched April |
| that runs a specific version of the | | | | 2000), both running Windows CE 3.0 |
| Windows CE operating system. It may have | | | | underneath. |
| the capability to run an alternative | | | | Vendors |
| operating system like NetBSD or Linux. | | | | Pocket PCs are manufactured and sold by |
| It has many of the capabilities of | | | | several different companies; the major |
| modern desktop PCs. | | | | manufacturers include HP (under the iPAQ |
| Currently there are thousands of | | | | and now defunct Jornada brands), |
| applications for handhelds adhering to | | | | Toshiba, Acer, ASUS, Dell (under the now |
| the Microsoft Pocket PC specification, | | | | defunct Axim brand), Fujitsu Siemens, |
| many of which are freeware. Some of | | | | HTC, and ViewSonic. In Mid-2003, Gateway |
| these devices also include mobile phone | | | | Computers and JVC announced they would |
| features. Microsoft compliant Pocket PCs | | | | release Pocket PCs, but the projects |
| can also be used with many other add-ons | | | | were discontinued before a product was |
| like GPS receivers, barcode readers, | | | | released. Prices in 2003 ranged from |
| RFID readers, and cameras. | | | | around $800 USD for the high-end models, |
| Definition | | | | some of which are combined with cell |
| According to Microsoft, the Pocket PC is | | | | phones, to $200 for low-end models. A |
| "a handheld device that enables users to | | | | $100–$200 model was rumored to be |
| store and retrieve e-mail, contacts, | | | | released within 2004 or early 2005, |
| appointments, tasks, play multimedia | | | | although the lowest price for a |
| files, games, exchange text messages | | | | just-released Pocket PC never went under |
| with Windows Live Messenger (MSN | | | | $300. Many companies ceased to sell |
| Messenger), browse the Web, and more." | | | | PDA's by 2003–2004 because of a |
| (src: microsoft buyersguide) | | | | declining market. Major Companies such |
| From a technical standpoint, "Pocket PC" | | | | as Viewsonic and Toshiba stopped |
| is a Microsoft specification that sets | | | | producing new Pocket PCs. |
| various hardware and software | | | | Before the Pocket PC brand was launched, |
| requirements for mobile devices bearing | | | | there were other Windows-based machines |
| the "Pocket PC" label. | | | | of the same form factor made by HP, |
| For instance, any device which is to be | | | | Philips, and others called Palm-size |
| classified as a Pocket PC must: | | | | PCs. These devices ran Windows CE |
| Run Microsoft's Windows Mobile, PocketPC | | | | 2.0–2.11 and had an interface that was |
| edition | | | | similar to the then-current desktop |
| Come bundled with a specific suite of | | | | versions of Windows, such as Windows 98. |
| applications in ROM | | | | Companies like O2, T-Mobile and Orange |
| Note: the name Windows Mobile includes | | | | are marketing Pocket PCs that have |
| both the Windows CE operating system and | | | | integrated mobile telephony |
| a suite of basic applications along with | | | | (smartphones). All users have to do is |
| a specified user interface | | | | put in the SIM card and follow the |
| Include a touchscreen | | | | wizard, to put their SIM contacts in the |
| Include a directional pad or touchpad | | | | address book. An example is O2's XDA, or |
| Include a set of hardware application | | | | T-Mobile's MDA Compact. Both of these |
| buttons | | | | devices, whilst bearing the phone |
| Be based on an ARM version 4 compatible | | | | operator's logo, are actually |
| CPU, Intel XScale CPU, MIPS CPU or SH3 | | | | manufactured by the dominant Pocket PC |
| CPU. (As of the Pocket PC 2002 | | | | manufacturer HTC. |
| specification, ARM-based CPUs are | | | | An example of a high end consumer-market |
| required.) | | | | Pocket PC currently available is the |
| Versions | | | | Dell Axim x51v. Hardware specs include |
| Microsoft's current release is Windows | | | | 3.7" color TFT VGA display with 640x480 |
| Mobile 6, internally code-named | | | | resolution, Intel XScaleTM PXA270 |
| Crossbow. It was officially released by | | | | Processor at 624MHz, 336MB of Memory |
| Microsoft on February 12, 2007 and | | | | (256MB Flash, 64MB SDRAM), integrated |
| Microsoft has promised that it will work | | | | 802.11b and Bluetooth 1.2, integrated |
| seamlessly with Windows Vista. | | | | Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator with |
| Windows Mobile 5.0 marked the | | | | 16MB video memory. Expansion is possible |
| convergence of the Phone Edition and | | | | via CompactFlash Type II and SD slots |
| Professional Edition operating systems | | | | (supporting SDIO Now!, SDIO and MMC |
| into one system that contains both phone | | | | cards). Included is a 1100 mAh user |
| and PDA capabilities. A 'Phone' | | | | replaceable battery (est. 4-6.5 hours, |
| application was included in the OS, and | | | | 2200mAh also available). |
| all PIM applications were updated to | | | | Some Pocket PCs feature integrated GPS |
| interface with it. Windows Mobile 5.0 | | | | often combined with mobile phone |
| was compatible with Microsoft's | | | | functionality. Pocket PCs with built-in |
| Smartphone operating system and was | | | | telephony differ from Windows Mobile |
| capable of running Smartphone | | | | Smartphone Edition devices in several |
| applications. | | | | respects - including the lack of a |
| Pocket PCs running previous versions of | | | | touchscreen on the latter. Some examples |
| the operating system generally stored | | | | of current Pocket PCs with GPS |
| user-installed applications and data in | | | | integrated are the Fujitsu Siemens |
| RAM, which meant that if the battery was | | | | Pocket Loox N560 a high-end Pocket PC |
| depleted the device would lose all of | | | | with a VGA screen and an integrated SiRF |
| its data. Windows Mobile 5.0 solved this | | | | Star III GPS; the HTC TyTN a small |
| problem by storing all user data in | | | | communicator with integrated slide in |
| persistent (flash) memory, leaving the | | | | keyboard; the HP hw6945 and HP iPAQ |
| RAM to be used only for running | | | | hw6515 with integrated thumb-board, GPS |
| applications, as it would be on a | | | | and GSM/GPRS telephony integrated; the |
| desktop computer. As a result, Windows | | | | HTC top of the line Universal - branded |
| Mobile 5.0 Pocket PCs generally had a | | | | as the QTek 9000 (also branded by |
| greater amount of flash memory, and a | | | | various telecommunications companies as |
| smaller amount of RAM, compared to | | | | the: Orange SPV M5000, T-mobile MDA Pro, |
| earlier devices. | | | | Vodafone VPA IV, O2 XDA Exec, i-Mate |
| The first devices to ship with Windows | | | | JasJar, Dopod 900). |
| Mobile 5.0 were the HTC Universal | | | | A newer entrant into the Pocket PC |
| (Europe) and the UTStarcom PPC-6700 for | | | | market are Palm who sell devices like |
| Sprint (United States). | | | | the Treo 700w/wx based on Windows Mobile |
| The previous release, Windows Mobile | | | | 5.0 and featuring integrated telephony. |
| 2003 Second Edition added native | | | | Previously Palm only produced PDAs |
| landscape support as well as other fixes | | | | running the Palm OS (as did the first |
| and changes to those features already | | | | versions of the Palm Treo) and still |
| present in the original release of | | | | sell versions of the Treo based on the |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket | | | | Palm operating system. |
| PC, also known as WM2003. The first | | | | HTC, responsible for manufacturing up to |
| device to come with 2003SE was the Dell | | | | 80% of all phone enabled Windows Mobile |
| Axim x30. | | | | devices for other companies (including |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket | | | | HP and O2) as well as many non-phone |
| PC consisted of the Windows CE.NET 4.2 | | | | enabled Pocket PCs (for companies such |
| operating system bundled with | | | | as Dell, HP and Fujitsu Siemens), have |
| scaled-down versions of many popular | | | | announced their intention to market |
| desktop applications, including | | | | Pocket PCs and Smartphones under their |
| Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer, | | | | own brand, as well as that of Dopod (a |
| Word, Excel, Windows Media Player, and | | | | company they are buying out) |