The Windows Mobile 6 Application Ecosystem: A Retrospective Analysis
Because the base OS is relatively "skeletal," third-party apps are essential to make the device truly useful.
to build packages for Windows Mobile and other legacy operating systems. Mobile OS Architecture Trends technical journal by Intel
- Emulators: Microsoft provided device-accurate emulators (e.g., HTC-style touchscreen, smartphone non-touch) that allowed debugging without hardware.
- Languages: Developers could choose between native C++ (using Win32 API or MFC) or managed C#/VB.NET (using the .NET Compact Framework 2.0/3.5).