Windows Mobile Device Center

Windows Mobile Device Center is Microsoft's manager for mobile devices connected to the computer, released as the successor to ActiveSync for Windows Vista. The program works with devices that run Windows Mobile 2003 or a later version. The main purpose of the application is to create an active connection between the PC and the connected Windows Mobile devices: phones, smartphones and PDAs. The Device Center allows the user to synchronize data between the specified devices and manage music, pictures and other files. Such features of the application are useful primarily for business users who keep their mail and schedule on the phone. Without any extra work, they can quickly synchronize important information such as emails, contacts, tasks and scheduled appointments with Microsoft Outlook, as well as work documents.

In order to make full use of all the features of the program, it is necessary to go through several steps of configuration. First, connect the device to the computer via USB cable and make sure that the PC has detected it. In the window that opens, click on "Set up your device". Your device is now connected to your computer. The next step is to select the information you want to synchronize. Use the checkboxes to mark the necessary information types, then click on the button "Next". If you have the option to connect to the server, select "Exchange Server" and enter the information provided by your network administrator. Otherwise skip this step ("Skip"). At the last step, the program asks you to enter the device name. The setting is completed after clicking on the button "Set up". Version 6.1 added support for Windows Mobile 6 devices and compatibility with Windows 7. With Windows Mobile Device Center, you can also browse the files and folders of the connected device and open its documents directly from the PC. E-mail, contacts, tasks and notes are synchronized with Microsoft Outlook 2003 or Office Outlook 2007.

With Windows Mobile Device Center, connecting a Windows Mobile device to a Windows Vista computer is simpler than it was with ActiveSync. The streamlined partnership wizard sets up synchronization in a few steps, and existing partnerships are easy to manage later. The photo management feature detects new photos on the device, lets you tag them and imports them into Windows Photo Gallery. Music files can be synchronized and shuffled on the device through Windows Media Player. The program is no longer supported: Microsoft has removed its downloads from the Download Center, and it does not work with phones that do not run Windows Mobile, such as Windows Phone devices.

The main benefit of using the Windows Mobile Device Center is its ability to seamlessly synchronize and manage data between a PC and Windows Mobile devices.