Worldwide Windows CE Websites

By Tom Gibson
Technical Editor, Handheld PC Magazine

The graphic at the top of this page shows a map of the world. There are 86 countries on that map with Handheld PC subscribers, but until recently, the vast majority of Web sites supporting Windows CE originated in one country, the United States. That's changing.

Windows CE was developed in the U.S. and first introduced here in the Fall of 1996. It's understandable that initial online support began here also. But with the release of Windows CE 2.0 and with better support for international character sets, Windows CE began to spread out around the world. As it has, so has support for Windows CE in the form of third-party software developers, system integrators and websites.

We Americans sometimes delude ourselves into thinking we're the center of the universe. If that was ever true with Windows CE, it's not anymore. In this issue, I thought that I'd take a quick look at some of the Windows CE Websites popping up elsewhere on this tiny spinning rock we call the Earth.

http://www.syscodata.nl/

Datacommunication & Engineering is a site that hosts the Dutch Companion User Group of Compaq in the Netherlands. The User Group specializes in the Compaq Companion and has links to software of interest to their members.

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/1305/

RO_MA is the first Swiss Windows CE internet site. RO_MA has free programs written for Windows CE 1.0 and/or 2.0, funny original Schwii-backgrounds in color and greyscale, and much more for you and your handheld computer. Also included are a mailing list, news and links to other sites. You can also download Pocket CerEX, a beta version of a currency conversion application that includes 150 worldwide currencies.

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/9276/

ZC's Home Page is a Spanish language site that has links to other Windows CE sites.

http://www.wince.ru/

Russian Resources for Windows CE is a site in Russian that has information on Handheld and Palm-size PCs. I don't speak or read Russian, but it appears to be a commercial site that sells Windows CE Devices. There are pictures of all of the PC Companions and lots of links.

http://www.ctv.es/USERS/cargarcm/winceesp1.htm

Página Web de Windows CE 2.0 en español is a Website in Spanish. The page contains user information and has links to other sites.

http://www.palmshop.de/wince/

Windows CE-Forum Deutschland is a German language site with a lot to offer. There is a Windows CE Chat section, discussion groups, FAQs, links and more.

All of these sites are of European origin. That still leaves out a huge hunk of the world in Asia, Africa and South America. I'll do a future column on Worldwide Websites and User Groups for PC Companions. Let me know who and where you are and I'll let the world know all about you.