Updated: July 13, 2020 (February 6, 2000)
Analyst ReportPocket PC Platform Announced
Microsoft announced that a new “Pocket PC” platform will succeed the Palm-size PC platform as Microsofts standard bearer for Windows CE on keyboardless, handheld devices. The announcement, made at the 2000 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), is both a rebranding moveMicrosofts “Palm-size PC” brand was too similar to Palms far more successful Palm PC, which outsells Windows CE devices six to oneand a technology move, rolling out the next version of Windows CE for handheld devices.
Details about the Pocket PC are sparse, but several manufacturers, including Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Siemensall of whom build or have announced Palm-size deviceshave announced they will build devices based on the Pocket PC platform.
Rebranding: Pulling Away from Palm
The rebranding component in this strategy is the more significant move. When Pocket PCs arrive in mid-2000, they should end the confusion between Microsofts Palm-sized PC platform and Palm Computings Palm. When it announced the Palm-size PC, Microsoft may have imagined that it could win by “embracing and extending” the palm metaphor, but the strategy seemed only to help build the Palm brand and extend Palms massive and growing leadnow at roughly 80% market share compared with Windows CEs 13%.
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