Tracking life’s details with Windows Mobile

The impetus for this article was my need to track expenses for tax purposes. As a contractor, I need to track mileage, utilities, and other deductible business expenses so that come tax time I’m prepared (good to dream, eh?). In the past, I’ve used Microsoft Office Excel Mobile to track these things. This year though, I thought I’d try a purpose-built app specifically designed for expense tracking.

As I researched the available options for Windows Mobile, I realized that tracking data goes far beyond mere expenses—by the time I finished my Windows Live Search, I had plans to not only track business expenses but also calories, stock prices, and even my mobile phone!



Tracking business expenses

The organizational power of Windows Mobile smartphones, coupled with their take-anywhere portability, makes them perfectly suited for on-the-fly tracking of expense data. Here, in no particular order, are a few of the available expense-tracking apps:

• BillRate by Iambic. This robust app lets you record expenses, mileage, and time, while on the go. You can also store project information and track revenue. BillRate even integrates with the PC versions of Microsoft Office Excel and Office Outlook Contacts, so you can easily maintain up-to-date data. Iambic offers a free, 30-day trial version.
• CohoExpense by CohoSoft. Designed for the business traveler, this nifty app tracks your expenses and organizes them by trip. You can export your expense data in HTML and CSV formats, and you can e-mail your info directly from your mobile phone.
• TealTracker by TealPoint Software. Track time and expenses using the TealTracker intuitive interface. TealTracker reporting features let you generate charts, graphs, and reports, and export them as text or CSV files. TealPoint offers a free trial.

Tracking personal finances

If you don’t need to track expenses for tax purposes, you can still track your spending habits. By tracking your expenditures, you’ll have a better sense of where your money goes. Once you know how you spend money, it’s much easier to start saving some. A few personal finance applications include:

• Keep Track by Ilium Software. Store your ATM, credit, and debit card transactions using the intuitive interface. You can password-protect your accounts, create one-touch buttons for common expenditures, and then categorize your spending to see where your hard-earned dollars are going. Ilium offers a free trial version.
• PocketKeeper by Mobiward. This personal finance management app focuses on your daily out-of-pocket expenditures. With password protection and a free PC companion program, PocketKeeper sheds light on your spending habits and helps you budget for future savings.

Tracking auto expenses

What with gas prices, maintenance, and insurance, cars can suck up quite a bit of cash. For many of us, at least a portion of these expenses are deductible, come tax time. If you need to track your auto-related expenses, consider one of these apps:

• Car Expense Tracker by exs corporation. This app lets you track mileage, consumables (such as oil or filters), fuel usage, and other useful information. Offering support for both miles/kilometers and gallons/liters, Car Expense Tracker even notifies you when it’s time to change the oil. exs offers a free demo.
• TealAuto by TealPoint Software. Use this mobile app to track mileage and expenses for your vehicle. You can also create a customized log for any number of vehicles. Import and export data to text files, CSV files, and Microsoft Office Word files. You can also make a trip log and set reminders for maintenance. TealPoint offers a trial version.

Tracking health

Everyone wants to live a healthier lifestyle. Windows Mobile can help you make smarter eating choices, hone your exercise routine, and track several vital stats like your blood pressure and glucose levels. The following apps can help bolster your health:

• Glucose Tracker by SoundTells. If you’re diabetic or just interested in monitoring your glucose level, Glucose Tracker can help. Automatically record your glucose level, its relationship to your meal, and the time you ate. You can also view trend data to see how your glucose levels change, helping you and your doctor plan your daily drug dosages. Glucose Tracker is a free download.
• iFitOne by Developer One. One of the latest diet and fitness tracking apps to help you lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle, beyond simply tracking your progress, this handy app actually motivates you to greater activity. iFitOne can help you achieve your fitness goals.
• Blood Pressure Tracker by SoundTells. This free utility helps track your blood pressure. Tracking your blood pressure can help you avoid hypertension and its resulting health issues. In addition to its easy-to-use tracking, this app also lets you see trend data for your blood pressure over time. This is an invaluable tool for folks with hypertension.

Tracking stocks

There was a time not terribly long ago when I followed the market very closely, checking prices several times a day. Lately, with the decline of the markets, I’m much less likely to check stock prices—it’s just too depressing. Still, the market will eventually turn back toward profit, and I’ll start checking again. That’s when these stock-tracking apps may come in handy:

• STQ by Magnifoca. Stock and Ticker Quotes (STQ) is a stock-tracking program designed specifically for Windows Mobile devices. See your desired information right on the Home screen. You can specify the intervals for your device to check prices and even create alarms for price changes and price targets. STQ also includes advanced charting and comparison tools.
• XS Portfolio by Xcite Software. A complete stock portfolio tool for your smartphone, XS Portfolio lets you manage multiple accounts. It also offers profit/loss alarms, a full range of charts, and support for numerous stock exchanges around the world.

Tracking the tracking device

The GPS capability of mobile equipment means that the very device used for tracking multitudes of data can itself be tracked. With these apps, you can locate a lost or stolen device, or keep an eye on family and friends. If your child misses their curfew, you can track them down. I imagine it’d take just one unexpected visit by dad to that secret party to remind a teenager to tell his parents where he’s going. With just a bit of setup, you can use these apps to track GPS-enabled Windows Mobile phones:

• Eagle Eye Tracker Mobile by Digital Technology Group, LLC. This app turns a Windows Mobile phone running Windows Mobile 6.1 into a tracking device. You can track up to five devices free. Using satellite images and maps, you can see exactly where a Windows Mobile phone is.
• Smartphone Tracker by Yaniv Nahum MSc. This free app was designed to find missing phones. You simply send a predefined text message to the lost phone, causing it to figure out where it is and relay that info back to you. If you misplace your phone, you can quickly locate it. Smartphone Tracker also works for locating missing family members—as long as they have their phone with them.