Don't just sit there! 10 smart ways to use a Windows Mobile phone

The heart of a smartphone is its ability to easily synchronize with Microsoft Exchange-based e-mail servers. Your company’s information technology (IT) department might have specific policies in place regarding access, so check with them to learn about any requirements. Here are four main ways to stay productive when you’re away from the office:

1. E-mail. On most smartphones, you can view both your Exchange-based e-mail and your personal e-mail. You can read, compose, send, and reply to e-mail messages.

2. Calendar. Having your Exchange-based work calendar on your phone means you’ll always know where your next meeting is located. You can add appointments, invite attendees, and view upcoming meetings and events.

Check meeting times and locations in Calendar

3. Contacts. Your address book is never far away either. You can add new contacts, update addresses and phone numbers, and view other information you’ve saved, such as birthdays or anniversaries.

4. Office files. Microsoft Office Mobile, included on many smartphones, lets you view and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files on your phone.

View and edit spreadsheets and other Office files using Office Mobile

When you need to take a break from work, don't put your phone away. There's plenty you can do with a smartphone:

5. Texting & instant messaging (IM). Most phones these days allow you to send short text messages to your contacts. Texting is great for short messages that you want your recipient to receive immediately. Text messages can also be faster than e-mail, because some people set up their phones to check mail only periodically to save on batteries. It’s also easier to check a text message than to check voice mail, especially if you're in a noisy place. If an ongoing text conversation is what you’re after, instant messaging programs on your smartphone work similarly to those on desktops, and will have you chatting away with your contacts in no time.

6. Web browsing. You can browse the web with a mobile version of Internet Explorer. If you sync your phone with your computer, you can easily move your favorites to your phone. Many websites have mobile-tailored versions that make it easier to read the sites on a smaller screen.

7. Feeds (RSS). Feeds are content updates published by a website, and are usually free. Many phones contain an RSS reader (short for “really simple syndication”) that you can use to subscribe to feeds, so you can read the latest updates to your favorite websites. Some readers allow you to select news that interests you by searching for specific keywords. That way you get updates about specific topics you care about.

8. Bing. Bing for mobile is a free download from Microsoft that lets you easily search the web for local areas of interest, such as movies and entertainment in your area. Traffic, local businesses, maps, directions, and more are all available. You can learn more about Bing on the Bing for mobile website.

9. Music. Lots of phones include the capability to listen to music, effectively transforming your phone into an MP3 player. If your phone includes a slot for a storage card, you can load even more music onto your phone.

10. Video. Some cellular data plans let you access video from your provider. You can watch small videos of news updates, sports, and even your favorite shows.

This list really just scratches the surface of the things you can do with a smartphone. There are also several games you can download; you can take pictures and videos; many phones include global positioning system (GPS) capabilities, and more. Oh, and smartphones are also quite good at making phone calls, too.