Embedded Partner Programs Updated

Microsoft has created the Embedded Ecosystem, a new resource that pulls together a variety of programs and sources of information for Windows Embedded developers, partners, and customers under a single umbrella. This move parallels the creation of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group that consolidated Windows CE, Windows NT Embedded, and the Windows 2000 Server Appliance Kit teams into a single group to align Microsoft’s embedded strategy and products.

The Embedded Ecosystem includes a consolidated and revised partners program, a new Embedded Developer Center, conferences, and an evaluation kit that includes both Windows CE and Windows NT Embedded.

Windows Embedded Partners Program

In the past, Microsoft had separate programs for embedded system integrators, embedded tool developers, and developers porting to particular processors. For the most part, these programs focused on Windows CE. While Microsoft still targets these groups, the Windows Embedded Partners Program provides centralized access to product, support, and event information for all of the Windows Embedded products. Key components of the program are a dedicated extranet site and a dedicated e-mail alias for general embedded product information.