Microsoft Corp. and ViewSonic Corp. have agreed to market a handheld device that runs Microsoft's Pocket PC software and sells for $299. The companies planned to announce the move Monday. The device is the first using Microsoft's technology that costs less than $300, a "sweet spot" in pricing, said Ed Suwanjindar, product manager of the mobile devices division. It will be available Nov. 1. The agreement is the latest with hardware manufacturers that the company has teamed with in rolling out its Pocket PC software. Microsoft has been courting manufacturers aggressively and landing deals with cell phone carriers to market devices that run its technology as the market for handheld PCs, "smart" cell phones and other devices grows.
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