Microsoft Windows CE 1.0 (Pegasus) was released in 1996
Microsoft Windows CE 1.01 (Pegasus) was released in 1997
Microsoft Windows CE 2.0 (Mercury) was released in 1997
Microsoft Windows CE 2.1 (Birch)was released in 1998
Microsoft Windows CE 2.12 (Birch SP2) was released in 1999
Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 (Cedar) was released in 2000
Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 Core add-on Pack (Cedar) released in 2000
Microsoft Windows CE 4.0 (Talisker) was released in 2002
Microsoft Windows CE 4.1 .NET Core (Jamison) was released in 2002
Microsoft Windows CE 4.2 .NET Core (McKendric) released in 2003
Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 (Macallan) was released in 2004

The different Windows Mobile Versions:
PocketPC 2002 was powered by Windows CE 3.0. Targeted specifically at 240 × 320 (QVGA) Pocket PC (keyboardless) devices, PocketPC 2002 was, like the original PocketPC 2000 release, a stand-alone entity in the Microsoft Embedded device range. With future releases, the Pocket PC and Smartphone lines would increasingly collide as the licensing terms were relaxed allowing OEMs to take advantage of more innovative, individual design ideas.

The third version, named Windows Mobile 2003, was released on June 23, 2003, and was the first release under the Windows Mobile banner. It came in four editions: "Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Premium Edition", "Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Professional Edition", "Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone" and "Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition". The last was designed especially for Pocket PCs which include phone functionalities (like HTC's Himalaya, distributed in many countries as Qtek, XDA, MDA or VPA). The Professional Edition was used in Pocket PC budget models such as the iPAQ rz1700 series. It lacked a number of features that were in the Premium Edition, such as a client for L2TP/IPsec VPNs. Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone is despite several similarities with Pocket PC a substantially different platform that also requires software applications to be specifically targeting this device type. To name a few specifics, Windows Mobile powered Smartphone devices do not have touchscreens, have lower display resolution, have a regular phone keypad, and are specially designed for single-handed use. Windows Mobile 2003 is powered by Windows CE 4.20.

Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, also known as Windows Mobile 2003SE, was released on March 24, 2004 and first offered on the Dell Axim x30. It includes a number of improvements over its predecessor, such as: * The option to switch from landscape to portrait screen layout. This is not available in the Smartphone version. * Pocket Internet Explorer (otherwise known as PIE) includes the option to force a page into a single-column layout, making reading easier since one now only has to scroll vertically. * VGA (640×480) screen resolution is now supported in addition to the previous 320×240 resoution. Also supported is a new square form factor (240×240 and 480×480 for VGA screens), which is ideally suited for manufacturers wishing to include a hardware keyboard. Although it wasn't originally stated to contain this feature, Microsoft decided to add it due to pressure from Pocket PC manufacturers. * Support for Wi-Fi Protected Access. Windows Mobile 2003SE is powered by Windows CE 4.21.111