Ask Microsoft

Where can I go online to get support on how to use my Windows Mobile Pocket PC or Smartphone?

To keep up with the latest in the world of Windows Mobile, bookmark and visit Microsoft’s Web site often (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/default.mspx). In addition, you can visit the Windows Mobile Support Web page (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/support/default.aspx) to sign up for a Windows Mobile newsletter, find “themes” to customize your Pocket PC or Smartphone, download applications including Microsoft Money and Streets & Trips to help you be productive, and discover new functionality with step-by-step instructions (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Support home page.

Finally, you can get support and great ideas on how to use your Windows Mobile device from fellow Windows Mobile customers by visiting Microsoft’s Windows Mobile newsgroups. The Pocket PC newsgroup includes popular topics about ActiveSync, multimedia issues, downloads, eBooks/audio books, and a marketplace section where members buy and sell Pocket PCs. In addition, there are non-English newsgroups available in Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, and Portuguese. Links to Pocket PC newsgroups are found on the Windows Mobile Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/communities/pocketpc/newsgroups.mspx).

A single English-language Smartphone newsgroup is available at this time, covering all topics. In addition, there are Chinese and French Smartphone news groups. Links to these newsgroups are found at (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/communities/smartphone/newsgroups.mspx).

I recently started sending and receiving e-mails from my Windows Mobile Pocket PC. The only complaint is I can’t find my sent e-mails. Where are they stored?

We’ve designed the software to maintain the familiar look and feel of applications you likely use on your desktop PC. As with Outlook on your desktop, on your Pocket PC, try tapping on the “Inbox” menu in the upper left corner of your screen. This action displays the “Show” view, which will allow you to access other folders such as Deleted Items, Drafts, Inbox, Outbox, and Sent Items (Fig. 2).

Fig.2: The Show menu displays the different Inbox folders.

Simply click on the folder you’d like to explore and proceed with reading, writing and deleting mail. If you have other questions, visit the online tutorial (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/support/default.aspx) or check out some of the support options described in the answer to the first question.

I’ve been reading about Pocket PCs from Dell and HP that have the “new” Windows Mobile software. What does this mean?

In March, Microsoft unveiled its Windows Mobile 2003 software Second Edition, an extension of the Windows Mobile 2003 platform, with a primary goal of enabling device makers to create new innovative hardware that offers customers richer experiences. Devices with the hardware components necessary to take advantage of the newly enabled functionality in the software, including VGA support for high resolution screens that optimize the Internet browsing experience, global font scaling to enable customers to adjust the type size to one that suits them, and landscape support, will enable everything from swivel screen devices to multimedia and gaming-focused devices.