PDF Viewers Bundled with Windows Mobile 6.5

When Windows Mobile 6.5 launched in 2009, Microsoft did not include a native, in-house PDF reader within the core operating system or the standard Office Mobile suite. Instead, mobile users relied on third-party viewing applications that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and cellular carriers licensed and bundled directly into their custom device ROMs. This article outlines the primary PDF solutions that came pre-installed on Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphones and enterprise handhelds.

Adobe Reader LE (Lite Edition)

Adobe Reader LE was the most common PDF solution pre-installed on Windows Mobile 6.5 devices. Licensed directly from Adobe by major hardware manufacturers such as HTC, Sony Ericsson, and LG, this lightweight viewer was designed specifically for resource-constrained mobile hardware.

Version 2.5 was the standard release found on popular consumer devices like the HTC HD2, HTC Touch Pro2, and Sony Ericsson Xperia X2. It provided essential functionality, including:

  • Text reflow to fit mobile screen widths.
  • Multi-level zooming and page panning.
  • Bookmarks and basic table of contents navigation.
  • Support for password-protected PDF files.

WESTTEK ClearVue PDF

WESTTEK ClearVue PDF was frequently preloaded on enterprise-oriented hardware, most notably Hewlett-Packard's (HP) iPAQ series of handhelds and select carrier-customized business devices.

ClearVue was praised for its speed and tiny memory footprint compared to Adobe’s offering. It integrated closely with the Windows Mobile file system and Internet Explorer Mobile, enabling automatic document loading from email attachments and local storage cards without significant rendering delays.

Picsel File Viewer

Certain manufacturers, particularly Samsung on devices like the Omnia II, opted to bundle proprietary multi-format suites rather than a standalone PDF application. The Picsel File Viewer was the prominent choice in this category.

Rather than relying purely on text reflow engines, Picsel used a proprietary smooth-rendering graphic engine that allowed users to pan and zoom across complex PDF layouts, vector graphics, and standard Office documents smoothly, even on low-powered processors.

Foxit Mobile PDF

While predominantly downloaded as a third-party utility by end users, Foxit Reader for Windows Mobile was licensed and factory-installed on several rugged industrial and enterprise handhelds running Windows Mobile 6.5 (such as devices from Intermec and Motorola/Symbol). Enterprise OEMs favored Foxit due to its rapid document loading times, low RAM utilization, and support for enterprise document security standards.