Windows Mobile developers have had much to be excited about in recent weeks. With the release of Windows Mobile 5.0 to device manufacturers, there are a number of new features and functionalities made available to both new and existing (if upgraded) Pocket PCs and Smartphones.

The .NET Compact Framework 2.0 is expected to be available in conjunction with the release of Visual Studio 2005, expected for release on November 7th and currently in beta. While there are a number of opportunities for Windows Mobile developers based upon these two important announcements, there is also a lot to consider.

For most application developers, the move to new versions of a development tool, technology, or operating system brings with it the challenges of compatibility. Usually, there are the critical concerns over whether an application can even run in the new environment, followed by changes that affect performance and usability.

For Windows Mobile developers, these concerns are quite valid. Changes to the .NET Compact Framework 2.0 can pose some problems for any existing applications, while Windows Mobile 5.0 poses some additional issues.

The first part of this article will break down some of the major considerations for migrating your applications to the new version of the framework, allowing you to get a "head start" on preparing your application to function properly when Windows Mobile 5.0 and the Compact Framework 2.0 are generally available.

Click here for the full tutorial at developer.com