Windows CE is a system software developed for the hand held computer and mobile industry. Windows CE development was undertaken by Microsoft Corporation, to cater to the growing demand for hand held devices and lately for mobile applications. The Windows CE development environment is similar to the Windows operating system, but for some significant modifications. The interface and front end of Windows CE looks familiar and Windows users can start sing the system without any training or familiarization. This I would call a salient feature of this system software. Many of the Microsoft family software and applications work smoothly on the Windows CE platform. The all too familiar Microsoft word, Excel spreadsheet and even presentations can be viewed and created in this operating system.Of course, the question uppermost in your mind would be, "Why use Windows CE , when it is the same as any other Windows software?" We have to understand that the usual windows software is used in Personal computers and servers where the limitation of space is not there. Storage devices like hard disk and CD-ROM drives take up considerable amount of space and are often unwieldy. A simple Windows installation without any frills and buntings takes up around 500 MB of space. This amount of memory would be considered high for a hand held computer. Windows CE development is specifically undertaken to address the issues arising from limited physical dimensions and weight of hand held computers. Accordingly, Windows CE has reduced instruction set. Microsoft Corporation has provided the source code for Windows CE, probably because of the need to modify the system software to suit varied mobile platforms , unlike personal computers which are fairly standardized. In the mobile industry, in addition to Windows CE other competing system software are available. Symbian OS is one such popular system software.