About a year ago, I was trying to find software to automatically sync my Windows Mobile based Pocket PC to my computer using Bluetooth when the computer is in range. I did a lot of research and found that no such software was available in the market. This surprised me because there seemed to be many people, including me, who would love to have this type of software. It was then that I decided to develop one for myself.

Pocket PCs and other handheld devices either need to be connected by wire or paired by Bluetooth to synchronize the contacts, emails, files, and so on. To connect either way, one has to manually connect the Pocket PC with the PC. The feature I wanted would allow the Pocket PC, when in Bluetooth range, to automatically connect to the PC, synchronize itself, disconnect after sync and then go back to sleep in order to save battery power.

Let us relate it to a typical new product development cycle, which outlines the process of bringing a new product or service to the market. The process involves the impetus of change, the concept, market research and analysis, product design and development, and launching the product into the market.

Few may realize that there is a rapidly growing market for these small devices and related products and services. Microsoft’s Windows CE has evolved into Windows Mobile v6.1. Palm OS has evolved into Palm Centro based smartphones and an all-new breed of smartphones and handheld devices have started flooding the market including the latest iPhone 3G. With all these platforms, the Software Development Kit and thousands of APIs and libraries to develop diversified applications come. Microsoft Visual Studio .Net is my choice for Mobile and Embedded development for Windows mobile and Windows smartphone based devices. Visual Studio and the Windows Mobile SDK make it possible to create software for the Windows Mobile platform in both native code (Visual C++) and managed code (Visual C#, Visual Basic .NET)

With the dawn of desktop computing came millions of concepts and fresh ideas to incorporate into desktop and Web applications, leveraging the power of the Internet. Now, all those ideas and features can be ported to handheld devices leveraging upon the form factor, portability, and ease of use. For example, how cool would it be to have an application on your favorite PDA or Phone that could tell you the gas prices at the gas stations around you and if required, it can navigate you to the pump using turn-by-turn voice and visual guidance. How about an application, which reminds you to post that package sitting in your car for weeks, when you are near the post office? Different people have different requirements as well as features they wish for, but one thing is for sure ? this is an area in which there is a wide scope to put forth effort.

The author is a Project Leader at Infinite Computer Solutions