Widely deployed workhorses that extend computing power
One of the major advantages of Windows Mobile as a technology platform is the large amount of choice it affords in terms of both software and hardware options. Microsoft has actively fostered a lively ecosystem of developers, system integrators, chip manufacturers, device manufacturers, mobile operators, and others to meet the specific goals of end-users.
One particular group of end-users—workers whose primary job function is performed in the field or away from their desks—is increasingly adopting ruggedized or "rugged enough"-type devices for use in demanding environments.
Whether for use by a rental car associate in a busy airport for fleet management, a soldier in Iraq for the detection of IEDs, a factory worker performing inventory management, a nurse or doctor performing positive patient identification and mediation management, or even an Apple employee selling iPhones, Windows Mobile devices running the Classic Edition of the operating system have seen increased adoption rates worldwide.
While much of the buzz and glitz around Windows Mobile has been largely from consumer-focused smartphone device offerings sold through the mobile operators (MOs), there is a huge and ever-expanding business for more purpose-built, tougher devices. Typically, these devices are not sold through the MO channel but are instead sold directly or through a reseller channel. However, due to the need for WAN connectivity in the field, cellular radio stacks are being incorporated into many of these devices and thus supported by carriers worldwide.
The right device 
for the right application
End users can be mapped to the types of applications they primarily use and can be broadly characterized as falling into one of two basic groupings: Mobile Messaging users and Line of Business (LOB) users. The line of delineation is not quite so clean, and obviously there are many applications that depend on mobile messaging. For discussion purposes though, it is useful to assume these two broad categories only.
Mobile Messaging would encompass primarily the communications category, including voice telephony, SMS texting, MMS messaging, and mobile e-mail. End users would predominantly be executives and other knowledge workers who need to keep in tight contact in order to make quick decisions while out of the office
Police departments are using rugged handhelds from Trimble and other vendors to make the writing of traffic tickets more efficient and less prone to errors.
Line of Business applications encompass purpose-specific/discrete business uses that fall into categories such as inventory management, logistics coordination, fleet management, inspections-related applications, operations and administrative management, etc.
These LOB applications share the common goal of seeking to improve operational efficiencies by automating formerly paper-based functions, capturing data at the point of origin, eliminating the need for re-keying information (which can introduce errors), and speeding up the flow of information to allow for more informed decision making and overall cost reduction. Typical end-users might include factory workers on an assembly line, nurses at hospitals taking patient information, rental car agents generating bills on the spot, retail inventory workers, medics in the field, police, fire, and rescue personnel, and many others.
The ruggedized or hardened device space is driven by some unique use cases and their associated environments.
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