Many organizations distribute reports, product information, sales information, and the like in word processor documents (DOC or TXT) or spreadsheets (XLS or WKS). You can read most of these in Word or Excel Mobile on the Pocket PC. Also, a number of copyright free reference works can be downloaded from the Project Gutenberg Web site (promo.net/pg). These classics are saved in plain text (TXT) form and can be viewed using Pocket Word. Most titles are also available in HTML format and can be read online using Internet Explorer Mobile or another Web browser.

Many companies offer sales documents, products lists, etc., in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. In addition, many reference works and eBooks are available in PDF format. The Pocket PC does not come with a built-in PDF viewer. But Adobe offers a free viewer, the Adobe Reader for Pocket PC, on its Web site (adobe.com/products/acrobat/readerforppc.html). This program is not available for the Smartphone. However, a few low-cost solutions are described later on.

Earlier Pocket PCs came with a built-in version of Microsoft Reader, which allows you to view eBooks in the LIT format. As of Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, the program is no longer built into Pocket PCs. But you can download Microsoft Reader for Pocket PC for free from Microsoft’s Web site (microsoft.com/reader/downloads/ppc.asp) and install it on your Pocket PC (Smartphone version not available). Microsoft offers the Encarta Pocket Dictionary and a number of free language translation dictionaries in the LIT format on its Website (microsoft.com/reader/downloads/dictionaries.asp). Finally, ZDict (smartphone.net) is a simple freeware dictionary program for Windows Mobile 2003 Smartphones.

The Smartphone does not have a version of Word or Excel built into it. However, there are a number of low cost third-party programs that will let you view these documents. Tiny eBook Reader (goldencrater.com) lets you view plain text documents and non-DRM protected MS Reader (.lit) eBooks on the Smartphone. Westtek’s ClearVue Office (westtek.com) lets you view Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on the Smartphone. Westtek also offers ClearVue PDF, which allows you to view Acrobat files on your Smartphone. Reader Mobile (orneta.com) lets you view plain text or PDF documents, but displays the text only—not the graphics. Finally, Speed Reader Plus from Mobile Dynamo (mobiledynamo.com) lets you convert HTML, Adobe PDF, and Word document files on a desktop PC to Speed Reader format, and export them to your Smartphone for easy reading. (All these programs are also available for the Pocket PC.)

Mobipocket Reader (mobipocket.com) is an award winning program that supports Open-e-Book, XML, HTML, and CSS formats. Finally, Memoware (memoware.com) is an excellent source of eBooks in a variety of formats.

You can download a variety of dictionary and thesaurus resources for many of the eBook readers, or you can purchase a dedicated dictionary like the English Dictionary Pro (beiks.com). Another excellent program is Lextionary (revolution.cx/lex.htm), a combination dictionary and thesaurus of the English language that organizes words alphabetically or by meaning. Both are available for the Pocket PC and Smartphone

Travelers can add a variety of language translation dictionaries to their Windows Mobile devices, including the SlovoEd Dictionaries (penreader.com) and the language translation dictionaries offered by Beiks (beiks.com). Note that SlovoEd Dictionaries offer add-on sound modules that let you listen to the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. Beiks offers separate Travel Phrase Books that let you listen to common phrases in different languages.

For the more spiritually inclined, there is a variety of religious titles available. Laridian (laridian.com) and Olive Tree (olivetree.com) offer Bible viewing programs and a selection of Bible versions for both the Pocket PC and Smartphone.

In addition to reading about them, you can gaze at the literal heavens with the help of one of the astronomy programs available for Windows Mobile devices. Pocket Stars from Nomad Electronics (nomadelectronics.com). is a highly-accuracy ephemeris, star finder, and celestial navigation tool available for the Pocket PC, Smartphone, and desktop PC.