It used to be that only business professionals had the need of a pocket pc, for those times when they were away from the office or in a meeting. However, times have changed and life has become busier for everyone. The stay at home parent finds that they cannot keep up with their children's schedules and appointments. Even those without children find that there are appointments that they must keep up with. Enter into the world of the pocket PC Smartphone to help manage tasks and appointments.

The PalmOs and the Blackberry are perhaps two of the most commonly used Smartphones in the business, but thanks to some prodding by Apple's iPhone, the other companies are jumping in to produce a pocket PC Smartphone.

So why use a Smartphone or a palm pocket pc? Well for starters, they are incredibly versatile.

What can you expect from a Smartphone? You can expect PC software such as Outlook, Word and even Excel as applications. This means that you can open and edit documents while on the go. That is a huge plus factor over earlier models of phones and PDAs. Most new Smartphones, like the iPhone, have added music players, text messaging, cameras and even voice recorders, as a way to entice new customers into making the jump from Apple to other manufacturers, such as Nokia and Motorola.

If you find yourself in the market for a pocket PC Smartphone, then you absolutely cannot go wrong with the iPhone; however, keep in mind the other major players in the industry. You may not pay as much as you would for the iPhone, but you still get the same capabilities. The iPhone still has a hefty price tag of $399 and new Smartphones and pocket PCs can be purchased for less with a new contract from a cellular provider.

Most phones prior to 2008 were running on Windows Mobile 5, but with the debut of Windows Mobile 6, more applications have opened up for use and there is more processor speed behind these small cell phones. The iPAQ Pocket PC is a prime example of faster running speed, but lacks the communication power of the iPhone. The iPhone has definitely set the standard for cell phones!

With a new pocket PC Smartphone, you may be able to get a substantial discount by opening up a new contract with a cellular provider. The best thing you can do is to shop around to find the best deals that have the capabilities that you need and want, all wrapped up into one very useful package.