Microsoft Rolls Out Pocket PC 2003

An anonymous reader writes "Monday, June 23 was a big day for Microsoft's mobile devices software strategy. The company: (1) rolled out Pocket PC 2003 (and renamed it); (2) unveiled a new "Windows Mobile" branding strategy; and (3) launched a collaboration with three leading high-speed wireless service providers to provide easier access to more than 3,500 Wi-Fi wireless "hot spots" by Windows-powered PDAs throughout the US. All this (and more) is covered in this "special report" at WindowsForDevices.com (including a detailed list of enhancements in Pocket PC 2003)."

Comments

Ah... marketing

[awtbfb]

... rolled out Pocket PC 2003 (and renamed it)

again

Why new name?

[Anime_Fan]

I see that the Pocket PC will be named Windows Mobile. It seems they want to use another brand, possibly to increase the wide-spread usage of the word 'Windows', but why?
I for one have always thought PocketPC as something that is LESS Microsoft, which is a Good Thing (TM). I would never buy a copy of Windows XP while I could consider buying a PocketPC (but not a Windows Mobile)...

I don't know what to do *Cries in horror*

Interesting timing on this announcement

[bshroyer]

I imagine that it wasn't a wild coincidence that Microsoft launches this product on the same day that a big part of the computer world is waiting on pins and needles to hear what Apple has to say at the WWDC, which won't begin for another few hours.

Industry Name Identity Problem?

[peterdaly]

Is it just me, or do you think cell-phone company when you read "Windows Mobile"?

-Pete

obligatory theregister link

[spiny]

theres also a summary here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/68/31369.ht ml

Who cares?

[CaptainZapp]

Ok, apologies for seemingly being a luddite, but who actually cares?

WiFi might be nice to give you added flexibility, but frankly do I really frantically want to search a hot spot every hour in order to download my 7 mails from which usually 7 are spam? I don't think so.

Granted, it might be nice to pass your time by browsing the web when you wait for a train. But I can do that just fine with a newspaper.

Methinks this is a rather desperate attempt to (finally) get a foot into the mobile, wireless world and Microsofts attempt to lure (GSM-)manufacturers/network providers in can only be described as a spectacular failure up to now.

Also, WiFi is not the GSM killer; a notion which seems popular in the US, but it's just plain wrong. Those are two very, very different technologies with very different objectives..

Re:News for Nerds?

[OscarGunther]

(Yeah, it's a troll, but I'll answer anyway.)

Because the dislike for Microsoft largely isn't irrational. I use Windows at work and at home, and generally like the product. I don't mind Microsoft trying to be all things to all people, but I do mind the way it tries to shut everyone else out of the market. There's a fine line between responsible and irresponsible competition and Microsoft straddles that line.

That's one of the reasons I'd like to see Linux succeed: to act as a brake on Microsoft's behavior. (Another is that I think Linux is kinda cool and I like the ethics surrounding its development.)

Do some here have a knee-jerk response to all things Microsoft? Sure, but it's mostly born of experience.

Only slightly offtopic

[boatboy]

We've just begun a project developing an app for .NET Compact Framework, and I have to say, I'm impressed. RAD for a wide range of CE & Pocket PC devices using C# and VB.NET is quite inticing. The framework is fairly light, considering, but is similar enough to the full framework that it's esentially identical to programming for a full PC. Debuging is cool too: you can debug on an emulated or real-live device.

That said: what are /.'s alternatives for rapidly developing mobile business apps?