Updated: April 25, 2007

As corporate vice president of Microsoft Corporation's PC|3 effort, Bill Mitchell is responsible for strategy, planning and project incubation for the new Windows hardware ecosystem. Mitchell's team collaborates with industry partners to create and promote a new generation of innovative hardware and software components that extend both the richness and reach of the Windows PC ecosystem.

After joining Microsoft in 1992 as an application architect, Mitchell led teams that pioneered many of Microsoft's current efforts in mobile computing. In 1993 he co-founded the original Windows CE and Handheld PC projects and served as director of the Handheld PC group when the product launched in 1996. During this period, Mitchell also led the creation of the first PIM software synchronization product at Microsoft, ActiveSync, and created the Windows Automotive business. Mitchell's role then expanded further as he created the Pocket PC incubation. In 1998 he was named general manager of the Mobile Electronics Group, which encompassed all these projects and also included his newest incubation, Smartphones.

In 2000, Mitchell left Mobile Electronics to found the Smart Personal Objects Team (SPOT ) to help expand Microsoft's product lineup into extremely small devices like wristwatches. Mitchell's team created the .NET Micro Framework OS and the MSN Direct nationwide wireless service. In 2003 he was promoted to corporate vice president and took on responsibility for the Tablet PC project.

In 2005, Mitchell's group expanded to take on all mobile and tailored PC opportunities in the Windows ecosystem, as well as the Windows Vista Ultimate SKU. In 2007 he was given responsibility for the strategy and planning of the entire Windows Hardware ecosystem, as well as platform and component incubations.

Before joining Microsoft, Mitchell co-founded a software startup in Tempe, Ariz. Prior to this he worked on early FLASH memory projects as a CAD engineer for Intel Corporation in the 1980s.

Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Arizona State University.

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