How to Find the Right Software For Your Windows Mobile Smartphone Devices

If you have been having trouble sourcing the right software to download onto your phone enabled Windows Mobile device, you are one in many that are experiencing the same problems.

Most of us have purchased devices through a service carrier and do have access to some software titles directly from the service carrier. We all run into a problem where the selection is limited or the prices are high compared to some of the other software resellers.

Most resellers only indicate that a title is available for a Pocket PC or Smartphone. Some are getting better and allow you to select the actual make/model that you have. In either case, the process for selection is not perfect.

What if you have a Pocket PC Phone Edition device or your make/model is not listed? Do you select Pocket PC version or Smartphone version of a given title?

I get confused too sometimes when asked about a new device I have never actually tried. Some users have spent countless frustrating days either via email or phone trying to resolve the issues of which version to download. Eventually giving up when they cannot get a real person on the line or the support person cannot provide the right answers quickly.

Here are some tips that I hope will help you in minimizing your ordeal in sourcing the right software for your specific device.

1: Try to dowload and purchase software titles listed specifically for your make/model from the carrier you have purchased your original device from.
2: Make sure your make/model is listed as a compatible device whenever a download is in question.

Many mobile carriers and software/hardware resellers combine a Pocket PC Phone Edition device and an actual Smartphone device into one generic Smartphone category therefore you can use these hardware specific markers to determine which yours falls into. These tips apply to WIndows Mobile 5.0 - 6.0 devices. Older models may vary slightly.

Pocket PC - Pocket PC Phone Edition (Pocket PC with a built in cellular phone)
- Built in touch screen.
- START menu at the top left of screen.
- Could have rectangular or square screen.
- Could also have 2 physical buttons just underneath the screen. To access the 2 virtual buttons that appear on the bottom of the actual screen. You can click either of the actual hardware buttons below the screen or use the stylus and click the virtual onscreen buttons.
- When you run an application, a X will appear on the top right corner.

Smartphone
- No built in touch screen
- Start menu is at the bottom left of screen.
- Screen can be square or rectangular.
- 2 physical buttons below the screen are used to access the 2 virtual onscreen buttons only since no touch screen exists. (MS calls these Softkeys)
- When you run an application, no X will appear on the top right corner.

These physical charactersistics can be used currently to determine which category your device falls into for downloading software purposes. The carrier may refer to your device as a Smartphone but the software reseller may refer to the device as a Pocket PC or Pocket PC Phone Edition device for software downloading purposes.

Over time, what I have described above may change since we have seen many inconsistancies with Windows CE from Microsoft since the beginning of this Windows CE journey.

You can go HERE to see a list of current and new devices that Microsoft classifies as Smartphones.

Some have rectangular screen
Some have square screen
Some have no keyboard
Some have a keyboard
From a quick glance, how do you tell which is the right device for you or what makes them a true Smartphone or a Pocket PC with a built in phone from a software stand point? It's funny how things get so convoluted.

This is not a perfect solution but should help many in reducing the download errors. Let me know if I have made any errors or if other specifications can be added to make it easier for all of us.