Microsoft introduced thePocket PC keyboard-less PDAs in 2000, with Pocket PC 2000 being the software. It was based on version 3.0 of Windows CE, the operating system originally developed for theHandheld PC in 1996.[2] The next versions werePocket PC 2002 and Smartphone 2002, the latter of which would power a new category of keypad-basedcell phone devices named Smartphone.[3] With the release ofWindows Mobile 2003, the software was rebranded to a single "Windows Mobile" for both Pocket PCs and Smartphones, and to connect the brand with its desktop counterpart.[4][5] Support forSH-3 andMIPS processor architectures were dropped, focusing only onARM.[5] In the next major release,Windows Mobile 5.0 in 2005, Microsoft unified the separate developments of Pocket PC and Smartphone software into a single Windows Mobile codebase.[6] Data could be synchronized with desktops usingActiveSync software, and later usingWindows Mobile Device Center.
Windows Mobile 6.0 and6.1 were the next major releases, in 2007 and 2008 respectively, by which time the hardware devices were also solely under the Windows Mobile banner. Along with the final major release,Windows Mobile 6.5, the first to be designed for use without astylus on touchscreens,[7] Microsoft also introduced theWindows Marketplace for Mobile for software distribution, for Windows Mobile 6.x devices. Following the success of newer mobile operating systems likeiOS, Windows Mobile faded rapidly; in 2010, Microsoft announced the more modern and consumer-focusedWindows Phone 7 as its replacement, and Windows Mobile has beendeprecated since existing devices and software are incompatible withWindows Phone.[8][9][10]
Internet Connection Sharing, supported on compatible devices, allows the phone to share its Internet connection with computers via USB and Bluetooth. Windows Mobile supportsvirtual private networking overPPTP protocol. Most devices with mobile connectivity also have aRadio Interface Layer. The Radio Interface Layer provides the system interface between the Cell Core layer within the Windows Mobile OS and the radio protocol stack used by the wireless modem hardware. This allows OEMs to integrate a variety of modems into their equipment.[11]
The user interface changed dramatically between versions, only retaining similar functionality. TheToday Screen, later called theHome Screen, shows the currentdate, owner information, upcoming appointments, e-mails, andtasks. The taskbar displays the current time as well as the volume level. Devices with a cellular radio also show the signal strength on said taskbar.[citation needed]
An Alpha build of WinPad in the early days of development showing off stylus compatibility
Windows Mobile is based on theWindows CEkernel and first appeared as thePocket PC 2000 operating system. It includes a suite of basic applications developed with the MicrosoftWindows API, and is designed to have features and appearance somewhat similar todesktop versions ofWindows. It allowedthird party developers todevelop software for Windows Mobile with no restrictions imposed by Microsoft. Software applications were purchasable fromWindows Marketplace for Mobile during the service's lifespan.[citation needed]
Most early Windows Mobile devices came with astylus, which can be used to enter commands by tapping it on the screen.[12] The primary touch input technology behind most devices wereresistive touchscreens which often required a stylus for input. Later devices usedcapacitive sensing which does not require a stylus. Along with touchscreens, a large variety ofform factors existed for the platform. Some devices featured slideout keyboards, while others featured minimal face buttons.[citation needed]
Microsoft's work on handheld portable devices began with research projects in 1990, with the work on Windows CE beginning in 1992. Initially, the OS and the user interface were developed separately. With Windows CE being based on Windows 95 code and a separate team handing the user interface which was codenamed WinPad (later Microsoft At Work for Handhelds). Windows 95 had strong pen support making porting easy; with some saying "At this time, Windows 95 offers outstanding pen support. It is treating pens right for the first time." WinPad was delayed due to price and performance issues, before being scrapped in early 1995 due to touchscreen driver problems relating to WriteTouch technology, made by NCR Microelectronic Products. Although WinPad was never released as a consumer product, Alpha builds were released showcasing many interface elements. During development of WinPad a separate team worked on a project called Pulsar; designed to be a mobile communications version of WinPad, described as a "pager on Steroids". This project was also canceled around the same time as WinPad. The two disbanded groups would form the Pegasus project in 1995. Pegasus would work on the hardware side of the Windows CE OS, attempting to create a form factor similar to a PC-esque PDA like WinPad, with communications functionality like Pulsar. Under the nameHandheld PC, a hardware reference guide was created, and devices began shipping in 1996, although most of these devices bore little resemblance to the goal of a pen-based touchscreen handheld device. A specification for a smaller form factor under the name Palm-size PC was released in 1998.[13][14][15][16][17]
Pocket PC 2000, originally codenamed "Rapier", was released on April 19, 2000, and was based on theWindows CE 3.0 kernel.[18][19]
Pocket PC 2000 was the debut of what was later to become the Windows Mobile operating system, and was meant to be a successor to the operating system aboardPalm-size PCs. Backwards compatibility was retained with such Palm-size PC applications.[citation needed]
Pocket PC 2000 was intended mainly forPocket PC devices; however, several Palm-size PC devices had the ability to be updated as well. Furthermore, several Pocket PC 2000 phones were released (under the name Handheld PC 2000), however at this time, Microsoft's "Smartphone" hardware platform had not yet been created.[citation needed]
At this time, Pocket PC devices had not been standardized with a specific CPU architecture. As a result, Pocket PC 2000 was released on multiple CPU architectures, such asSH-3,MIPS, andARM. The only resolution supported by this release was 240 x 320 (QVGA). Removable storage card formats that were supported wereCompactFlash andMultiMediaCard.Infrared (IR) File beaming capability was among the original hardware features.[citation needed]
Aesthetically, the original Pocket PC operating system was similar in design to the then-currentWindows 98,Windows 2000, and the yet-to-be-releasedWindows Me desktop operating systems. Crucially, the Pocket PC had a less cluttered interface more suitable for a mobile device, unlike the interface on predeceasing Palm-size PCs. Mainstream support for Pocket PC 2000 ended on September 30, 2005, and extended support ended on October 9, 2007.[17][20]
This initial release had multiple built-in applications,[21] many of them similarly branded to match their desktop counterparts; such asMicrosoft Reader,Microsoft Money,Pocket Internet Explorer andWindows Media Player. A version ofMicrosoft Office calledPocket Office was also bundled and included Pocket Word, Pocket Excel and Pocket Outlook. Notes, a note-taking app saw its first release and would be supported by most later versions of Windows Mobile.Intelligent character recognition support allowed Notes to distinguish styles of handwriting to be learned by the OS during processing to improve accuracy and recognition levels.[citation needed]
Pocket PC 2002, originally codenamed "Merlin", was released on October 4, 2001, and was based on theWindows CE 3.0 kernel, like with Pocket PC 2000.[18][19] Although targeted mainly for 240×320 (QVGA)Pocket PC devices, Pocket PC 2002 was also used for Pocket PC phones (Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition).[22]
Smartphone 2002, originally codenamed "Stinger", was released in 2002.[27] Based on Windows CE 3.0 like Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2000, Smartphone 2002 was built forGSM cell phones with standard keypad-based form factors, as opposed to Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition which targeted standard touch-based PDAs.[28][29] The first device that was supposed to ship with Smartphone 2002 was theSendo Z100 which was canceled after Sendo sued Microsoft.
Windows Mobile 2003, initially named as Pocket PC 2003 and originally codenamed "Ozone", was the first release under the Windows Mobile banner, released on June 23, 2003, based on theWindows CE 4.2 kernel.[18][19][30]
It came in four editions: "Windows Mobile 2003 forPocket PC Premium Edition", "Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Professional Edition", "Windows Mobile 2003 forSmartphone" and "Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition". The last was designed especially for Pocket PCs which include phone functionalities. The Professional Edition was used in Pocket PC budget models. It lacked a number of features that were in the Premium Edition, such as a client forL2TP/IPsec VPNs. All versions of Windows Mobile 2003 were powered by Windows CE 4.20.[citation needed]
Communications interface were enhanced withBluetooth device management, which allowed for Bluetooth file beaming support, Bluetooth headset support and support for Bluetooth add-on keyboards. A pictures application with viewing, cropping, e-mail, and beaming support was added. Multimedia improvements includedMIDI file support as ringtones in Phone Edition andWindows Media Player 9.0 with streaming optimization. A puzzle game titledJawbreaker is among the preinstalled programs. GAPI was included with this release to facilitate the development of games for the platform.[31]
Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, also known as "Windows Mobile 2003 SE", was released on March 24, 2004, and first offered on theDellAxim x30. It was based on theWindows CE 4.x kernel. This was the last version which allowed users to back up and restore an entire device throughActiveSync.
This upgrade allows users to switch betweenportrait andlandscape modes and introduces a single-column layout inPocket Internet Explorer. It includes support forWi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and newscreen resolutions: 640×480 (VGA), 240×240, and 480×480. It was powered by the same OS as with Windows Mobile 2003, which was Windows CE 4.20.
Windows Mobile 5.0, originally codenamed "Magneto",[18] was released at Microsoft's Mobile and Embedded Developers Conference 2005 in Las Vegas, May 9–12, 2005, and was based on theWindows CE 5.0 kernel. It requires at least 64 MB of RAM and an ARM compatible processor.[32]Microsoft Office Mobile andWindows Media Player 10 Mobile were pre-installed.
Windows Mobile 5.0 includedMicrosoft Exchange Server "push" functionality improvements that worked with Exchange 2003 SP2.[33] The OS used the.NET Compact Framework 1.0 SP3, an environment for programs based on .NET. New software features included an enhanced battery-saving capability calledpersistent storage capability, which was designed to seamlessly move data between RAM and flash memory to avoid data loss. New hardware features included enhancedBluetooth support, defaultQWERTY keyboard-support and a management interface forGlobal Positioning System (GPS).
OS updates were released asadaptation kit upgrades, with AKU 3.5 being the final released. Mainstream support for the OS was offered through October 12, 2010, and extended support through October 13, 2015.[34]
Windows Mobile 6, formerly codenamed "Crossbow",[18] was released on February 12, 2007[35] at the3GSM World Congress 2007 and was based on theWindows CE 5.2 kernel. Three different versions were released: "Windows Mobile 6 Standard" for smartphones without touchscreens, "Windows Mobile 6 Professional" for Pocket PCs with phone functionality, and "Windows Mobile 6 Classic" for Pocket PCs without cellular radios.[36]
Windows Mobile 6 was strongly linked to the then newly introducedWindows Live[37] andExchange 2007 products, and was meant to be similar in design to the then newly releasedWindows Vista. Functionally, it works much like Windows Mobile 5, but with improved stability.
Along with the announcement ofOffice Mobile 6.1[38] with support for Office 2007 document formats (pptx, docx, xlsx); OneNote Mobile, a companion toMicrosoft Office OneNote was added to the already installed version, and improvements were made to existing applications, such as enablingHTML email support inOutlook Mobile.
Windows Mobile 6.1 was announced April 1, 2008, and was based on theWindows CE 5.x kernel.
It is a minor upgrade to the Windows Mobile 6 platform with various performance enhancements and a redesignedHome screen featuring horizontaltiles that expand on clicking to display more information, although this new home screen is featured only on Windows Mobile Standard edition. This was not supported in the Professional edition.[39] Several other changes such asthreaded SMS, full page zooming in Internet Explorer and 'Domain Enroll' were also added, along with a "mobile" version of theMicrosoft OneNote program and an interactive "Getting Started" wizard. Domain Enroll is functionality to connect the device toSystem Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, a product to manage mobile devices.[40] Windows Mobile 6.1 also had improved bandwidth efficiency in its push-email protocol ActiveSync up to 40%;[41] this considerably improved battery life in many devices.
Aside from the visual and feature distinctions, the underlying CE versions can be used to differentiate WM 6.0 from WM 6.1. The version of Windows CE in WM 6.0 is 5.2.*, where the third and final number being a four-digit build ID (e.g. 5.2.1622 on HTC Wing). In WM 6.1, the CE version is 5.2.* with a five-digit build number (e.g. 5.2.19216 on Palm Treo 800w).
Windows Mobile 6.5 is a stopgap update to Windows Mobile 6.1, based on theWindows CE 5.x kernel, intended to bridge the gap between version 6.1 and the then yet-to-be releasedWindows Phone 7, which arrived in 2010. It was released to manufacturers on May 11, 2009; the first devices running the operating system were released in late October 2009.[42] Several phones that officially shipped with Windows Mobile 6.1 can be officially updated to Windows Mobile 6.5.[43]
This update includes some significant new added features, such as a revamped GUI, a new Today screen resembling that of Microsoft'sZune player with vertically scrollable labels (called 'Titanium') in terms of functionality with a styling similar to that ofWindows 7.[44] WM 6.5 also includes the new Internet Explorer Mobile 6 browser, with improved interface.[45] Along with Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft announced severalcloud computing services codenamed "SkyBox", "SkyLine", "SkyMarket".[46]
In the months following this release, development shifted from Windows Mobile to its successor Windows Phone. As such no major upgrades were planned or released, although three minor updates; 6.5.1, 6.5.3 and 6.5.5; were made to satisfy consumers during the transition period. The last minor update and the last released version is 6.5.5. It first leaked in January 2010, and was unofficially ported to some Windows Mobile phones.[47] The name Windows Mobile 6.5.5 has been applied to these newer builds, although this name remained unconfirmed by Microsoft.
There are three main versions of Windows Mobile for various hardware devices.[48]Windows Mobile Professional, which runs onsmartphones with touchscreens;Windows Mobile Standard, which runs on mobile phones without touchscreens; andWindows Mobile Classic, which runs onpersonal digital assistant orPocket PCs.Windows Mobile for Automotive and Windows Mobile software forPortable Media Centers are among some specialty versions of the platform.
Microsoft had over 50 handset partners,[49] when Windows Mobile was still being shipped on new devices. 80% of the 50 million Windows Mobile devices that were made from launch to February 2009 were built by one contract manufacturing group,HTC, which makes handsets for several major companies under their brands, and under its own brand.[50]
Naming conventions for each version
Pocket PC 2000
Pocket PC 2002 / Smartphone 2002
Windows Mobile 2003
Windows Mobile 2003 SE
Windows Mobile 5.0
Windows Mobile 6
Windows Mobile 6.1
Windows Mobile 6.5
Pocket PC (without Mobile Phone)
Pocket PC 2000
Pocket PC 2002
Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC
Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC SE
Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC
Windows Mobile 6 Classic
Windows Mobile 6.1 Classic
N/A
Pocket PC (with Mobile Phone)
Pocket PC 2000 Phone Edition
Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition
Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition
Windows Mobile 2003 SE for Pocket PC Phone Edition
On January 10, 2011, Microsoft announced Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5. The operating system has compatibility with Windows Mobile 6.5 and is presented as an enterprise handheld device, targeting retailers, delivery companies, and other companies that rely on handheld computing. Unlike Windows Phone, Windows Embedded Handheld retains backward compatibility with legacy Windows Mobile applications.[51]
Pocket PCs andpersonal digital assistants were originally the intended platform for Windows Mobile. These were grouped into two main categories: devices that lacked mobile phone capabilities, and those that included it. Beginning with version 6 devices with this functionality ran "Windows Mobile 6 Professional" and those that lacked it ran "Windows Mobile 6 Classic". Microsoft had described these devices as "a handheld device that enables you to store and retrieve e-mail, contacts, appointments, play multimedia files, games, exchange text messages with MSN Messenger, browse the Web, and more".[52] From a technical standpoint Microsoft also specified various hardware and software requirements such as the inclusion of a touchscreen and a directional pad or touchpad.
Smartphones were the second hardware platform after Pocket PC to run Windows Mobile, and debuted with the release of Smartphone 2002. Although in the broad sense of the term "Smartphone", both Pocket PC phones and Microsoft branded Smartphones each fit into this category. Microsoft's use of the term "Smartphone" includes only more specific hardware devices that differ from Pocket PC phones. Such Smartphones were originally designed withouttouchscreens, intended to be operated more efficiently with only one hand, and typically had lowerdisplay resolution than Pocket PCs. Microsoft's focus for the Smartphone platform was to create a device that functioned well as a phone and data device in a more integrated manner.[53]
Windows Mobile's share of thesmartphone market grew from its inception while new devices were being released. After peaking in 2007,[55] it saw decline year-on-year.
In Q1 2003, Windows Mobile was the third largest operating system in the smart handheld market, behindSymbian andPalm OS.[56]
In Q1 2004, Windows Mobile accounted for 23% of worldwide smartphone sales.[57] Windows Mobile was projected in 2005 to overtake Symbian to become the leading mobile OS by 2010.[58] In Q3 2004, Windows Mobile (CE) surpassedPalm OS to become the largestPDA operating system.[59]
In Q4 2005 Microsoft shipped 2.2 million PDAs, which increased to 3.5 million in the same quarter the following year.[60] Windows Mobile saw year over year growth between 2005 and 2006 of 38.8% which according to Gartner "helped Windows Mobile to solidify its stronghold on the market".[60]
But by 2008, its share had dropped to 14%.[61] Microsoft licensed Windows Mobile to four out of the world's five largest mobile phone manufacturers, with Nokia being the exception.[62]
Gartner research data showed that while the total smartphone industry grew 27% between 2008 and 2009, Windows Mobile's share of the smartphone market fell 2.7% in that same period.[63] It also[63] decreased by 20% in Q3 2009.[64] At one time Windows Mobile was the most popular handset for business use,[citation needed] but by 2009 this was no longer the case; 24% of planned business deployments of mobile application in the United States were for Windows Mobile, putting it in 3rd place, behindBlackBerry (61%) andiPhone OS (27%);[65]
In February 2009, Microsoft signed a deal with the third largest mobile phone maker,LG Electronics, to license Windows Mobile OS on 50 upcoming LG smartphone models.[66] But in September 2009,Palm, Inc. announced it would drop Windows Mobile from its smartphone line-up.[67] Gartner estimated that by the third quarter of 2009 Windows Mobile's share of worldwide smartphone sales was 7.9%.[64] By August 2010, it was the least popular smartphone operating system, with a 5% share of the worldwide smartphone market (afterSymbian,BlackBerry OS,Android andiOS).[68] An October 2009 report inDigiTimes said thatAcer would shift its focus from Windows Mobile toGoogle Android.[69]The New York Times reported in 2009 that Windows Mobile "[was] foundering", as cellphone makers desert it in favor of Google'sAndroid phone platform.[70] It cited the difficulties in Microsoft's business model, which involves charging handset manufacturers up to $25 for each copy of Windows Mobile, while rival Google gives away Android for free.[71] From late 2009 analysts and media reports began to express concerns about the future viability of the Windows Mobile platform, and whether Microsoft would keep supporting it into the future.[72][73][74]Samsung announced in November 2009 that it would phase out the Windows Mobile platform,[75] to concentrate on its ownBada operating system, Google's Android, and Microsoft's Windows Phone.[76]
Software could bedeveloped by third parties for the Windows Mobileoperating system. Developers had several options for deploying mobile applications. These included writing native code withVisual C++,managed code that worked with the.NET Compact Framework, writing code inTcl-Tk with eTcl,[77] GCC usingCeGCC,[78]Python using PythonCE orserver-side code that could be deployed usingInternet Explorer Mobile or a mobile client on a user's device. The .NET Compact Framework was a subset of the.NET Framework and hence shared many components with software development on desktop clients, application servers, and web servers which had the .NET Framework installed, thus integrating networked computing space.[79]
To aid developers Microsoft releasedsoftware development kits (SDKs) that worked in conjunction with theirVisual Studio development environment. These SDKs includedemulator images for developers to test anddebug their applications while writing them. Software could be tested on a client machine directly or be downloaded to a device. Microsoft also distributed Visual Studio 2008 / 2005 Professional Editions, and server/database counterparts to students as downloads free of charge via itsDreamSpark program.[80] Third partyintegrated development environments could also be used to write software such asLazarus,Resco MobileForms Toolkit,[81] Lexico,NS Basic andBasic4ppc. Some third party development environments allowed coding to be done on the device itself without the need for a computer.[82]
Developer communities have used the SDK to port later versions of Windows Mobile OS to older devices and making the OS images available for free, thus providing the devices with newer feature sets. Microsoft had tolerated this procedure for some time but decided in February 2007 to ask developers to take their OS images off the net, which in turn raised discussions.[83] At the same time Microsoft offered upgrades to Windows Mobile 6 versions to manufacturers for free.[84]
On July 5, 2009, Microsoft opened a third-party application distribution service calledWindows Marketplace for Mobile.[85] In 2011, Windows Marketplace for Mobile stopped accepting new admissions.[86] and then fully closed on May 9, 2012.[8]
In the early years of Windows Mobile devices were able to be managed and synced from a remote computer usingActiveSync; adata synchronization technology andprotocol developed byMicrosoft, originally released in 1996. This allowed servers runningMicrosoft Exchange Server, or other third party variants, to act as apersonal information manager and share information such as email, calendar appointments, contacts or internet favorites.
With the release ofWindows Vista, ActiveSync was replaced withWindows Mobile Device Center. Device Center is included with Vista andWindows 7 and provides manyfront end enhancements, allowing a home user to sync PIM information with Microsoft Outlook 2003 and later, photos from Windows Photo Gallery, videos or music from Windows Media Player and favorites with Internet Explorer; without the need for a serverback end. Devices at this time also included a base driver compatible with Mobile Device Center so a user can connect to a computer without a need for any configuration.
^abDe Herrera, Chris (November 2003)."Windows Mobile 2003".Pocket PC Magazine. Archived from the original on September 14, 2007. RetrievedAugust 9, 2024.