Company announces strategy for product renaming, outlines plan for new
solutions in key device categories and unveils first developer
certification.
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at Embedded
Systems Conference Silicon Valley 2008 in San Jose, Microsoft Corp. laid
out the next phase in its strategy for the Windows Embedded Business,
providing a strategic road map outlining the renaming of its family of
products and plans for new solutions in key device categories. The new key
device category solutions will be offered under the Windows Embedded Ready
name and will ship as preconfigured toolkits providing device-makers with
in-demand market-specific features that allow them to build and ship
next-generation smart, connected, service-oriented devices in an
accelerated fashion.
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"With today's strategic road map announcement, our aim is to present
the evolving Windows Embedded product family in an intuitive fashion,
making it easier for our customers to choose the right platforms and tools
for their needs," said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the Windows
Embedded Business at Microsoft. "Windows Embedded solutions for key device
categories will energize our partner ecosystem by enabling new business
scenarios and help lay the foundation for partners to successfully fulfill
our vision of a new generation of smart, connected, service-oriented
devices."
The first product release under the new naming strategy will be Windows
Embedded Standard, the next generation of Windows XP Embedded, and will be
launched simultaneously at Tech-Ed North America and through a global
webcast event on June 3. All presently available Windows Embedded products
will be marketed under their current names until their next scheduled
product release and will remain available for purchase in line with the
standard Microsoft Support Lifecycle policy. The Windows Embedded Ready
product line for key device categories will include the next generation of
Windows Embedded for Point of Service, Windows Embedded POSReady. The
Windows Embedded Business plans to further detail its strategy for the
Windows Embedded Ready products later this calendar year.
The Windows Embedded family of products includes the following:
-- Windows Embedded Standard. The next generation of Windows XP Embedded.
The next product release is currently forecast for 2008.
-- Windows Embedded Compact. The next generation of Windows Embedded CE.
The next product release is currently forecast for 2009.
-- Windows Embedded Enterprise. A fully application-compatible embedded
operating system that over time will gain a broader set of embedded
enabling features. Today this product group is composed of Windows
Vista and Windows XP for Embedded Systems and is licensed exclusively
for embedded device development.
-- Windows Embedded POSReady. The next generation of Windows Embedded for
Point of Service. The next product release is currently forecast for
2009.
Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Developer Certification and Free Training
Furthering its commitment to growing and empowering the developer
community, Microsoft also announced the establishment of Windows Embedded
CE 6.0 Certification, the first certification included in the Microsoft
Certification Program for the Windows Embedded product family. A key
element of the Windows Embedded business strategy, the certification will
provide a common reference point on the skills and technical expertise that
Microsoft recommends for all Windows Embedded CE 6.0 developers.
Customers developing projects on Windows Embedded CE will now be able
to identify partners and distributors based on Windows Embedded technical
knowledge. In addition, companies building devices on the Windows Embedded
platform and wanting to hire Windows Embedded CE developers will now be
able to better differentiate between candidates. In support of the
certification, Microsoft is offering a free exam preparation kit for
Windows Embedded CE developers. The kit can be downloaded or viewed online
and is localized in English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, German
and French.
The certification exam will be available on May 5, 2008; the official
name of the exam is Exam 70-571: TS: Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0
Application Development. It costs $125 (U.S.) and is administered by
Prometric testing centers worldwide. Local testing centers can be found at
http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp. The free
preparation guide will be available on the MSDN Embedded Developer Center
at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-571.mspx.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com/
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CONTACT:
pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Rebecca Beyer of Weber
Shandwick, +1-212-445-8463, rbeyer@webershandwick.com, for
Microsoft Corp.
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