A Pocket PC (P/PC, PPC) is a kind of personal digital assistant (PDA) that runs on the Windows Mobile or Windows CE operating system. It has some of the abilities of modern desktop PCs. The name was introduced by Microsoft in 2000 as a rebranding of the Palm-size PC category. Some of these devices also had integrated wireless phone and data capabilities, which were called Pocket PC Phone Edition, as well as Smartphone.
As of 2010, thousands of applications existed for handhelds adhering to the Microsoft Pocket PC specification, many of which were freeware. Microsoft-compliant Pocket PCs can be used with many add-ons such as GPS receivers, barcode readers, RFID readers, and cameras.
In 2007, with the advent of Windows Mobile 6.0, Microsoft dropped the name Pocket PC in favor of a new naming scheme:
- Windows Mobile Classic (formerly Pocket PC): devices without an integrated phone;
- Windows Mobile Professional (formerly Pocket PC Phone Edition): devices with an integrated phone and a touch screen;
- Windows Mobile Standard (formerly Smartphone): devices with an integrated phone but without a touch screen.