Is it possible to
1) Have a Basic4ppc program that runs in the background?
E.G. a process that looks at whether a text message has come in and then read it out with the Speach library?
2) Have a program that only takes up part of the screen?
e.g. a new TouchKeyboard with easier keys. Takes up bottom third of screen and needs to feed its output into the currently running App?
1. Yes, programs can run in the background. See Hardware.ShowTodayScreen method.
2. That is not possible with Basic4ppc. You will need a more low level programming language.