The Pocket PC is Microsoft's PDA platform.
Definition
A Pocket PC (or PPC) is a handheld computer that is part of the family of products called Personal Digital Assistants (or PDAs). A Pocket PC runs a specific version of the Windows Mobile operating system. It has many of the capabilities of a desktop or laptop PC. There are Pocket PCs available that do not have an integrated mobile phone, and those that do. We will only discuss those with an integrated mobile phone at PDAPhoneHome. Pocket PCs may run thousands of compatible applications available from many vendors. Most Pocket PC applications are forward compatible, but there are some exceptions.
According to Microsoft, a Pocket PC is...
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Pocket PCs come with mobile versions of Office applications in addition to Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile. Though there are different Pocket PCs, many come with Wi-Fi to enable you to connect to the Internet when you are in a wireless hotspot. With a Pocket PC, you’ll be able to use Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile and browse the Internet if you have a device with Wi-Fi and are in a wireless hotspot. You can compose e-mail messages and send them by synchronizing with your desktop computer or wirelessly when you’re in a hotspot.
You can do everything with a Pocket PC Phone that you can do with a Pocket PC with the addition of wireless access to the Internet and cellular phone capabilities. If you have a Pocket PC Phone, you can access the Internet through your wireless connection—you won’t need to find a wireless hotspot. Internet access incurs data charges from your wireless provider.
You can add a wide variety of software titles to your Pocket PC and Pocket PC Phone. You can visit the Windows Mobile Certified Software Catalog, which lists certified applications for Windows Mobile powered devices.
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Versions of Windows Mobile
The most recent version of Windows Mobile is
Windows Mobile 6 (or WM6). Pocket PC Phones lag behind the verisons without an integrated phone because of the additional qualification with carriers, the FCC, etc.
Windows Mobile 2003
Released June, 2003.
- Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition - the Pocket PC Phone version
- Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Premium Edition - the Pocket PC PDA version - no phone
- Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Professional Edition - the Pocket PC PDA version (lacking some Premium features) - no phone
- Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone - the Smartphone version - no touchscreen
Versions of Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
An updated version of Windows Mobile 2003. Released March 2004
Versions of Windows Mobile 5
Released May 2005
- Windows Mobile 5 for Pocket PC - Phone Edition - the Pocket PC Phone version
- Windows Mobile 5 for Smartphone - the Smartphone version
- Windows Mobile 5 for Pocket PC - the Pocket PC non-Phone version
Versions of Windows Mobile 6
Released February 2007.
- Windows Mobile 6 Professional - the Pocket PC Phone Edition Version
- Windows Mobile 6 Standard - the Smartphone Version
- Windows Mobile 6 Classic - the non-Phone Pocket PC Version
Pocket PC Phone Devices
The following is a list of PDAPhones based on the Pocket PC Platform: