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Bink reports that Microsoft's Windows Mobile has won a contract from the U.S. Census Bureau for 500,000 handsets, which is expected to increase sales of Windows Mobile devices to $1 billion in one to three years, up from the current $337 million.

Can't blame them. I'm probably going to buy one today, and Windows Mobile smartphones are competitively priced, and usually cheaper, than Palm devices, and typically offer better data plans.

The Census Bureau will be using the devices to replace their notepads, letting them go around door-to-door and not be doodling into a little pad. I'd love to see the numbers, see how the government came to the conclusion that such devices would bring productivity increases enough to justify the expense.

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Meanwhile, Microsoft also announced Windows CE 5.0 Networked Media Device Feature Pack for OEMs, designed to give CE5 devices better Plays For Sure video support, more video formats, DVR functions, with built-in middleware designed to bring better networking, device drivers and codecs.

And I'm not sure if this is cool

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Nathan Weinberg writes the popular InsideGoogle blog, offering the latest news and insights about Google and search engines.

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