New Windows CE Delivers Wireless, Previews .NET

Microsoft has released the fourth major version of Windows CE, its specialized, embeddable edition of the Windows operating system (OS) that companies can use to create custom portable connected devices. The new version, Windows CE .NET, adds support for strategic networking protocols and for digital entertainment. It also includes a technology preview of the .NET Compact Framework and the Visual Studio .NET Smart Device Extensions, which are versions of Microsoft’s new .NET development platform and developer tools for portable devices. The .NET Compact Framework will allow developers to create test versions of applications for portable devices using the new platform; however, production versions will have to wait until the final release becomes available.

Improvements to Networking and Digital Media

Connected and portable devices are important both to Microsoft’s .NET vision and to the success of Windows CE as an embedded OS. (For background, see “.NET Puts Focus on Embedded Strategy” on page 6 of the July 2001 Update.) CE .NET delivers support for the network protocols that Microsoft thinks are gaining traction in business and (increasingly) in homes, including the following: