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A Pocket PC (PPC) is a hardware design by Microsoft that is a small-sized handheld device used for computing. The earliest models used the Windows CE operating system, with later models using the Windows Mobile operating system. Despite their small size, Pocket PCs had many of the same functions and abilities of contemporary PCs.
Techopedia Explains Pocket PC
Microsoft’s Pocket PCs were introduced in 2000, and over the years Microsoft evolved the Pocket PC and released a number of Windows Mobile operating system editions for these devices. The hardware was made by several different manufacturers, but they were required to meet hardware and software specifications in order to be classified as Pocket PCs, including operating system, software and user input controls. Although there were no actual size specifications, Pocket PCs were intended to be used as handheld devices.
In 2007 Microsoft changed their naming scheme for Pocket PCs — gadgets with integrated phones were called Windows Mobile Classics devices, while those with touch screens were referred to as Windows Mobile Professional devices and devices without touch screens were called Windows Mobile Standard devices.
The Pocket PC specification and Windows Mobile were discontinued in 2010 in favor of smartphones running the Windows Phone operating system.
