# Windows Mobile

> discontinued family of mobile operating systems by Microsoft

**Wikidata**: [Q21207](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21207)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Mobile)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/windows-mobile

## Summary
Windows Mobile is a discontinued family of mobile operating systems developed by Microsoft for smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). First introduced on April 19, 2000, it was based on the Windows Embedded Compact platform and served as the predecessor to the Windows Phone operating system.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Microsoft (American multinational technology corporation)
- **Inception Date:** April 19, 2000
- **Final Version:** 6.5.3 (released February 2, 2010)
- **Based On:** Windows Embedded Compact (formerly Windows CE)
- **Preceded By:** Pocket PC and Windows Embedded Compact
- **Succeeded By:** Windows Phone
- **License:** Proprietary
- **Platform:** Pocket PC
- **Interface:** Graphical user interface (GUI)

## FAQs
### Q: What is the relationship between Windows Mobile and Windows CE?
A: Windows Mobile was based on Windows Embedded Compact, which was formerly known as Windows CE. Windows Embedded Compact is an operating system subfamily by Microsoft that began in 1996.

### Q: Which companies manufactured hardware for Windows Mobile?
A: Numerous manufacturers produced compatible devices, including HTC (models like the HD2 and Touch Pro2), Sony Ericsson (Xperia X1 and X2), Toshiba (TG01), Acer (neoTouch series), and LG (Incite).

### Q: When did Microsoft stop updating Windows Mobile?
A: The final major update for the platform was version 6.5.3, which was released on February 2, 2010, before Microsoft transitioned to the Windows Phone platform.

### Q: Who were the primary competitors of Windows Mobile?
A: Windows Mobile competed in the mobile market against Apple's iOS, the Symbian operating system, Mozilla's Firefox OS, and Google's Android (including versions such as Android Marshmallow).

## Why It Matters
Windows Mobile was a foundational effort by Microsoft to dominate the early smartphone and PDA markets. By leveraging the Windows brand and a graphical user interface, it aimed to provide a familiar computing experience on mobile hardware. It served as a bridge between the early era of handheld "Pocket PCs" and the modern smartphone era. 

The platform was significant for its broad hardware support, running on devices from major manufacturers like HTC, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba. It also integrated with other technology services of its time, such as Google Latitude. Although it was eventually discontinued in favor of Windows Phone, its decade-long lifecycle from 2000 to 2010 influenced the development of mobile software and the competitive landscape that included Symbian and the early versions of iOS and Android.

## Notable For
- **Platform Heritage:** Built directly upon the Windows Embedded Compact (Windows CE) architecture.
- **Enterprise Hardware:** Powered iconic early smartphones such as the HTC HD2, which featured a large display for its time, and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.
- **Update Methodology:** Utilized an "Adaptation kit upgrade" method for system updates.
- **Extensive Device Ecosystem:** Supported a wide array of form factors, from touch-screen PDAs to keyboard-equipped smartphones like the HTC TyTN II and HTC Excalibur.

## Body

### Origins and Development
Windows Mobile was officially launched by Microsoft on April 19, 2000. It was designed as a family of mobile operating systems specifically for the Pocket PC and smartphone markets. The system was an edition of the broader Microsoft Windows family and was based on Windows Embedded Compact, a subfamily of operating systems that Microsoft initiated in 1996.

### Technical Architecture
The operating system operated under a proprietary license and featured a graphical user interface (GUI). It was specifically optimized for the Pocket PC platform. Throughout its development, the software reached its final iteration with version 6.5.3, released on February 2, 2010. Technical maintenance and system updates were managed through Adaptation kit upgrades.

### Hardware Integration
Windows Mobile was adopted by a diverse range of hardware partners. Notable devices that ran the operating system include:
*   **HTC Series:** HD2, HD Mini, Touch Pro2, Touch Dual, TyTN II, Snap, Artemis, Touch HD, and Startrek.
*   **Sony Ericsson:** Xperia X1 and Xperia X2.
*   **Toshiba:** TG01, Dynapocket IS02, and SoftBank X01T/X02T.
*   **Acer:** X960, neoTouch P300, and neoTouch P400.
*   **Other Manufacturers:** LG (CT810 Incite) and I-mate (810-F).

### Market Competition and Succession
During its tenure, Windows Mobile was a direct competitor to several major mobile platforms. These included Apple's iOS, the Symbian OS (launched in 1998), and later, Firefox OS and Android Marshmallow. Microsoft eventually transitioned its mobile strategy away from the Windows Mobile architecture, succeeding it with the Windows Phone operating system.

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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [Windows Mobile | Microsoft Wiki | Fandom](https://microsoft.fandom.com/wiki/Windows_Mobile)
3. KBpedia