Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phones

Shortly after the first modern Pocket PC was released, a variant device, the Pocket PC Phone, was introduced. Pocket PC Phones are fully-functional Windows Mobile PDAs with fast processors and touchscreens, and also include telephony components for voice and data communication over wide-area wireless networks (maintained by providers like Sprint, Cingular [AT&T], Verizon and T-Mobile). Pocket PC Phones are PDAs first and mobile phones second, offering every benefit of standalone Pocket PCs.

Pocket PC Phones were originally intended as Pocket PC alternatives, but recent trends in PDA demands have made Pocket PC Phones the primary form of Windows Mobile PDAs.

Examples of Pocket PC Phones include the Cingular 8525 and the Samsung i730:

Windows Mobile Smartphones

As Pocket PC Phones increased in popularity, a push began for Windows Mobile devices that looked and behaved more like phones than PDAs. Windows Mobile Smartphones were designed to fill this need. Unlike Pocket PC Phones, Windows Mobile Smartphones are primarily intended to be used as phones. These devices lack touchscreens, but have limited PDA-like functionality built-in, including contact management, e-mail and text messaging, web browsing, audio playback and compatibility with add-on applications. These devices are designed for more traditional phone users who still want and need limited PIM (Personal Information Management) and multimedia capabilities.

Examples of Windows Mobile smartphones include the Cingular 3125 and Motorola Q: