When Microsoft first released the Pocket PC platform six years ago smartphones were almost nonexistent. And yet many of today's smartphones are built on the Phone version of that two-handed flavor of Windows Mobile. Sure, there are plenty of Windows Smartphones out there, many of which emphasis a more phone-like one-handed experience; but none of those feature touch screens or some of the other advanced functions - such as the ability to edit Microsoft Office documents - of a Pocket PC Phone.

So what do you do if you want it all? A Pocket PC Phone that performs like a Windows Smartphone, but without losing any functionality. According to Spb Software House, check out its new Spb Mobile Shell application.

The software replaces the traditional Pocket PC Phone interface with one that is supposedly less awkward to use in mobile handset. Spb says its aim is to close the gap between the old Pocket PC interface and one expected from today's smartphones.

With that in mind, Spb Mobile Shell delivers the following:

The most relevant information is displayed on one screen

A phone style menu

Weather forecasts

Photo speed dial

World time

ApplicationLauncher

Large Today screen tabs

Color based themes

Smart contact search

Auto-hide mode for Today plug-ins


The application, which is currently available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Polish, and Traditional Chinese, sells for $29.95.

You can try out Spb Mobile Shell by downloading it from our WindowsMobileToday downloads section. To do so, click here.

Another Spb application that many Pocket PC users find helpful is Pocket Plus. It adds several features missing from Windows Mobile. To learn more about Pocket Plus and download a trial version, click here.