Pocket PC Magazine Undergoes Name Change to "Smartphone & Pocket PC"

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_top/news.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_top/news.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Pocket PC is changing its name to Smartphone &amp; Pocket PC starting this November. The publication, originally launched in 1997 by Thaddeus Computing as Handheld PC Magazine, was created to help users get the most out of Microsoft Windows CE-based handheld computers. In 2000 the magazine changed its name to Pocket PC to reflect Microsoft’s new direction for Windows CE-based handhelds. Now once again in 2005, because of projections for explosive Smartphone growth, a major market shift has taken place. The newest incarnation of the Windows CE-based handheld operating system called Windows Mobile 5 provides PDAs and Smartphones a similar look and functionality. Therefore, starting with the 2006 Buyer’s Guide on newsstands in November, Pocket PC becomes Smartphone &amp; Pocket PC."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/smartphone&pocketpcmagazine.gif" /><br /><br />I was looking at the latest issue that came in the mail just yesterday and thought to myself "They should really change their name to 'Windows Mobile Magazine' or something that also incorporates Smartphones", and look, they did! Thanks for listening to my telepathic messages Hal. ;-)

[Jerry Raia]

This is a good thing. I read this magazine and enjoy it thoroughly.

[Gremmie]

I still (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21862&amp;highlight=publish)think PPCT &amp; Co. should get into the publication business.

[Jason Dunn]

I still (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21862&amp;highlight=publish)think PPCT &amp; Co. should get into the publication business.

Nah, my response is still the same. ;-) Besides we ARE in the publishing business, it's just online. :mrgreen:

[ctmagnus]

Hah! I get a Smartphone, and they change their title to incorporate Smartphones, within weeks! I'm telepathetically influential. :mrgreen:

[atsouch]

The title of a printed publication can be changed easily. I wonder what they will do with their website name. From the image it seems that it is still pocketpcmag.com.

[surfer]

Hah! I get a Smartphone, and they change their title to incorporate Smartphones, within weeks! I'm telepathetically influential. :mrgreen:

Ha ha. Yeah me to just got a smartphone :mrgreen: Ain't life great :mrgreen:

[Hal Goldstein]

From Jason

"I was looking at the latest issue that came in the mail just yesterday and thought to myself "They should really change their name to 'Windows Mobile Magazine' or something that also incorporates Smartphones", and look, they did! Thanks for listening to my telepathic messages Hal. ;-)"

Sure, thanks for sending them. For several years we have thought long and hard about "Windows Mobile Magazine". However, on the newsstand, magazines with "Windows" in title have not seemed to survived. The unitiiatiatiated newsstand browser might have little idea what a "Windows Mobile" is, but "Smartphone" and "Pocket PC" are concrete names people can relate to.

Hal Goldstein
Owner/Publisher Pocket PC magazine (soon to be "Smartphone and Pocket PC")
[email protected]

[Hal Goldstein]

The title of a printed publication can be changed easily. I wonder what they will do with their website name. From the image it seems that it is still pocketpcmag.com.

Great question. We are open to suggestions. Our plan is to wait until a redesign of our www.pocketpcmag.com Web site, probably early next year. We now own sp-ppc.com and smartphoneandpocketpc.com, but are not thrilled with either. Ideas???

[Hal Goldstein]

I still (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21862&amp;highlight=publish)think PPCT &amp; Co. should get into the publication business.

As Jason said, he is in publishing business. I don't know that you would want to wish print publishing on someone you like and respect :) .

Actually, if anyone ideas how we can Thought-tize more our "Smartphone and Pocket PC" magazine -- or what that would mean editorially in a print publication, I am always open to ideas and partnerships to make the magazine stronger. We do now have a three pages section each issue, with some of the best comments and tips from our PocketPCmag.com support forum.

[Jerry Raia]

We do now have a three pages section each issue, with some of the best comments and tips from our PocketPCmag.com support forum.

I can think of two other forums that would look good on those pages. :mrgreen:

[Clinton Fitch]

The title of a printed publication can be changed easily. I wonder what they will do with their website name. From the image it seems that it is still pocketpcmag.com.

Great question. We are open to suggestions. Our plan is to wait until a redesign of our www.pocketpcmag.com Web site, probably early next year. We now own sp-ppc.com and smartphoneandpocketpc.com, but are not thrilled with either. Ideas???

smartphoneandpocketpc.com?!?!?!?!?!!?!!?!? O-U-C-H

Of course, this is coming from a guy who makes people spell FITCH to get to his site :oops:

Do you really need to change the URL though? Granted, the magazine name will change but PPCMag has had SP aspects to it for what? Over a year now? While the magazine's physical name can change, I guess I don't see the reason why it all must change?

My .02 (cents, shillings, pence, euros, pesos, quid, etc)

[egarayblas]

Hal: What if you just register "smartphonemag.com" and then forward it to the pocketpcmag.com website as well? Just a suggestion.

[ADBrown]

As Jason said, he is in publishing business. I don't know that you would want to wish print publishing on someone you like and respect :) .

He's really not joking. :|

Great question. We are open to suggestions. Our plan is to wait until a redesign of our www.pocketpcmag.com Web site, probably early next year. We now own sp-ppc.com and smartphoneandpocketpc.com, but are not thrilled with either. Ideas???

Clinton Friitch:devilboy: has a valid point--the branding change doesn't have to extend to the website. Besides which, the URL is an important piece of mind share in and of itself.

If I were you, I'd probably retain the original URL, and simply redirect whatever alternate URLs you retain, including Smartphonemag.com.

[Hal Goldstein]

We do now have a three pages section each issue, with some of the best comments and tips from our PocketPCmag.com support forum.

I can think of two other forums that would look good on those pages. :mrgreen:

Actually, adding great info from Smartphonethoughts and Pocketpcthoughts as a regular or even occassional feature in our magazine is not out of the question. If the information was consistently of great interest and usefulness, and someone from your team committed to get us the best material issue after issue from your forums, I'd consider it. If you or Jason want to persue it, then we can discuss it by email. What is important to us is the material is very solid, strong, and of general interest, and we don't have to do too much work converting it into final form. The feedback we get from customers, is we can never have too many tips and how-to's.