Microsoft Unveils Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition

Microsoft unveiled a new edition of its Pocket PC software aimed at the emerging market for smart cell phones today at the 3GSM World Congress 2002 in Cannes, France. Dubbed Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition, the software will run on a new generation of Smartphone 2002 (formerly code-named Stinger) devices. Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition combines the best features of Microsoft's PDA platform with integrated wireless voice and data capabilities.

"With Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition, we've worked hard to make integration of the phone and Pocket PC applications seamless for customers," Ben Waldman, vice president of Microsoft's Mobile Devices Division said this week. "As a result, we think these will be the most productive devices for mobile professionals ever delivered."

Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition focuses on three areas. The first is Pocket PC and phone integration, including one-touch dialing from contacts, the ability to view and edit personal information manager (PIM) data from the phone application, and Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) migration services. The second area is great phone functionality, including an intuitive dialer, call log, call notification, caller ID, speed dial, conference calling, and a speaker phone. And the third focus is on "smart" connectivity, including multiple WANs support, Wi-Fi (the 802.11b wireless standard), Server ActiveSync technology, and remote desktop synchronization.

Several companies--including mmO2, Orange, SingTel, Telefonica Moviles, Telstra, T-Mobil, Turkcell, and Vodafone--are working with the company to bring these Smartphone 2002 devices, servers, and services to market this year. Microsoft is developing Smartphone 2002 reference designs with Intel and Texas Instruments.