What's Online

If you have been looking through your local software store for Windows CE titles, chances are the pickings have been mighty slim. With the ease and security that the Internet is offering today, and the low cost of using it to reach millions of consumers, many software vendors are opting to cut out the cost and hassle of distribution by making their titles available on line, at one of the new "virtual" software stores on the Internet.

You'll still find Windows 95/98 and Windows NT software available in "non-virtual" stores. Part of the reason for this is the sheer size of the software. It would be very inconvenient to attempt to download 190 MB of files from the Internet. Even some of the popular graphics-intensive video games available today are over 30 MB. Contrast this with a typical Windows CE application which, in most cases, is under 3 MB, and you begin to see why virtual software stores are popular for Windows CE software.

Better for the customer

As mentioned, virtual cut software costs dramatically, for both the consumer and the software developer/reseller. Time is money, and buying software from a real store involves getting into the car, driving to the store, parking , walking around trying to find the software, waiting in a checkout line wondering whether you've got the best price or maybe you should go over to CompUSA and check out their price, and so on. Instead, from the comfort of your home or office, you can go up on the Internet and quickly check the sites where Windows CE titles are available. You can do your comparison shopping, make a secure transaction for your purchase and either download the software immediately, wait for the product to be shipped to you, or a combination of the two.

Better for the developer and reseller

Virtual stores provide a lot of advantages to the software developer. He doesn't have to spend a lot of time finding stores to sell his titles, or fight with the reseller for prime space on the shelves. Some sites will sell advertising space in prime locations, such as the opening pages of the site, but for the most part titles are on pretty much of a level playing field. Description and requirements of the software are readily available to the consumer with the click of a mouse button.

The reseller doesn't have to have a lot of knowledgeable clerks available to assist you with your purchase. Most sites provide links back to the developer for that. The reseller doesn't have to invest a lot of resources stocking products in all 500 outlets of his store. In fact, he doesn't have to have 500 outlets, which means he saves a whole lot on rent and utilities. He can afford to carry a wider variety of products, including carrying cases, PC Card devices, and cables. In fact, some virtual stores even sell H/PCs and Palm-size PCs.

Everything's "Virtual"

Most virtual stores and malls use virtual shopping cart systems. You browse the virtual shelves and when you find a product you want, click on a "Buy" button, enter the quantity you want, and "put it into your shopping cart." When you're finished shopping, you proceed to the virtual checkout where you confirm the items in your shopping cart and the prices you will be charged. You can change your mind and take items out of the shopping cart, or discard the whole cart.

When you're ready buy, you click the "purchase" button. You're asked for your name, address, phone, fax, email, etc. Normally, you don't have to fill out all of the fields if you don't want to. You're then asked for your credit card information, which is transmitted in a secure manner that can only be read by the intended recipient. The card is checked (as it is in any store) and you receive a virtual "thank you" from the virtual clerk. In addition, an email confirmation of your order is sent. If the product is downloadable from the site, you're then able to have it sent directly to your computer. Otherwise, it's shipped to the address you give.

With the exception of Windows CE users that are not yet able to access the Internet, all parties are served by the virtual store. Here are some of the virtual stores available today on the Internet for Windows CE software. For those without Internet access, MobilePlanet, mentioned below, has an old-fashion paper catalog it will send you.