Abstract: An interface for a handheld computing device to interact with a peripheral pointing device uses of a pointer tracking memory in the handheld computer to track the position of a pointer. The pointer tracking memory is updated when the peripheral pointing device sends an X-Y offset signal. The interface paints a pointer on the handheld device touchscreen at a location determined by the pointer tracking memory. When a button click signal is received from the peripheral pointing device, a touchscreen tap is simulated at the location stored in the pointer tracking memory. The touchscreen tap simulation is passed to the operating system routines that normally handle taps. The operating system then processes the simulated tap as it would a physical tap. This provides compatibility with all existing legacy applications.