Windows CE offers exciting Mobile Computing Possibities

Mobile Computing Market
The mobile workers along with the general mobile consumer segment represent a significant market for the computer industry. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are approximately 21.6 million field workers and 19.2 million mobile ofllce workers in the United States. Included in the field worker category are customer service, sales representative, insurance agents and health care workers and included in the office worker category are managers, executives, professionals, architects, engineers, and scientists. Mobile users and people on the go need a different kind of computer. They need computers that:

Are small, lightweight and provide quick access;
Are unobtrusive when used face-to-face;
Usable while standing or moving about;
Are uncomplicated to learn and use;
Are easy to customize and facilitate self-reliance;
Are designed for mobile connectivity;
Allow pen and paper tasks to be automated and improved.

Key technological advances are paving the way for the mobile computer market to become a commercial reality and therefore, a reality for those mobile workers. The technological advances that are appearing today are a new assortment of small, lightweight, ruggedized hardware platforms, wireless communications, digitizing pens and optional graphical user interfaces. The Yankee Group, a Boston-based information technology market research company, reported that in 19961.6 million workers in the United States were using some sort of mobile computing device. They predict that by the year 2002, that number will increase to 12 million.