Mobile-enthusiast has written a nice article on the various ways to install applications meant for Windows Mobile Pocket PC on a Windows Mobile Smartphone. The primary difference between a Pocket PC and Smartphone is the input method that each device uses, i.e. a touch screen interface using stylus on Pocket PC versus a joystick/keypad on Smartphone. Therefore, developers have to take this into consideration before designing applications for each platform.

One interesting idea mentioned is to install an application meant for Pocket PC in a PPC emulator using Microsoft Device Emulator 2.0 and a compatible Windows Mobile Pocket PC image. You can then copy the installed folder from the emulator to your host and from there to a folder on your Smartphone using Activesync Explorer. Pocket PC applications may run on a Smartphone but not display properly owing to the screen resolution difference between Pocket PC and Smartphone. As for applications that do require touch screen/stylus input such as Skype, you can use a utility called SPHelper. This utility displays a virtual cursor on your mobile screen controlled by the Smartphone’s keypad/joystick.