Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows CE 3.0

REDMOND, Wash., June 15, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. announced today that the Microsoft® Windows® CE 3.0 embedded operating system and its comprehensive development tools, Platform Builder 3.0 and eMbedded Visual Tools 3.0, are now available to order. The release of Windows CE 3.0, a modular embedded operating system for the new generation of connected 32-bit devices, represents a major milestone for embedded developers. Delivering the richest set of technologies available on the market today, Windows CE 3.0 enables developers to build rich, embedded devices that demand dynamic applications and Internet services. Platform Builder 3.0 delivers the tool set that enables embedded developers to bring their devices to market easier and faster than ever. Microsoft also announced reduced pricing, broader distribution of its development tools and for Platform Builder 2.12 customers a free* upgrade to Platform Builder 3.0 as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering cost-effective solutions that meet the unique needs of the embedded marketplace. In addition, Microsoft is providing access to necessary source code to assist embedded developers in bringing up and testing their devices.

“Windows CE 3.0, with its enhanced and easier to use development tools, delivers the richest set of technologies that enable embedded developers to quickly build devices,”
said Bill Veghte, vice president of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft.
“This enables developers to deliver rich, cost-effective solutions for connected devices that demand adaptive applications and Internet services.”

“In deciding on what embedded operating system to power our new car navigation device, we took a number of factors into consideration including time to market, richness of functionality and total cost of development,”
said Hiroaki Ideno, Software Engineering Group manager of the Car Infotainment Manufacturing Dept. at Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Sanda Works.
“We are very excited about Windows CE 3.0, which not only gives us the real-time functionality we demand, but has also reduced our development costs and cut our development time.”

In addition to announcing Windows CE 3.0 availability, Microsoft also announced reduced pricing of its run-time licenses, easier access to Platform Builder 3.0 development tools and availability of selected source code to assist developers in device bring-up and advanced testing. Customers will experience up to a 50 percent cost reduction for Windows CE 3.0 run-time licenses, depending on volume and features.

“We are very excited about the business opportunities Windows CE 3.0 represents. With the embedded and appliance industry moving toward 32-bit connected devices, Windows CE 3.0 delivers the richest set of technologies, making it a leading choice among embedded developers,”
said Dick Eppel, president of Annasoft Systems Inc.

We have supported
Windows CE from the start and, as one of its largest distributors, look forward to helping our customers implement a wide range of solutions based on Windows CE 3.0.”

About Windows CE 3.0

Delivering significant technology gains over its predecessor, Windows CE 2.12, Windows CE 3.0 offers embedded developers a wide breadth of functionality and flexibility for designing embedded systems including the following new features:

  • Increased componentization resulting in more flexibility in the operating system image

  • Richer Internet browsing with Internet Explorer 4.0 and enhanced multimedia capabilities with DirectX® and Windows Media™
    Format

  • Dial-up boot loader, allowing software updates to be administered remotely

  • Improved real-time support

  • Integrated HTTP Server for sending Web-based data

  • New functionality for building and distributing rich applications with Microsoft Message Queuing Service for Windows CE and DCOM for Windows CE

  • Support for 10 localized languages for customers worldwide to take advantage of the innovations in Windows CE 3.0 when designing their devices

About Platform Builder 3.0 and eMbedded Visual Tools 3.0

Platform Builder 3.0 delivers the tools developers need to rapidly build Windows CE-based embedded systems. The Platform Builder 3.0 integrated development environment (IDE) lets developers configure, build and debug the new generation of highly modular designs. New features that will enable faster development and debugging times include these:

  • Improved target-host integration and connectivity

  • More powerful system-level debugging, including hardware-assisted and source-level debugging

  • Wide range of development choices with a new extensibility model to directly integrate support for additional microprocessor architectures and third-party development tools into the IDE

Platform Builder 3.0 also now includes eMbedded Visual Tools 3.0, which offers versions of the familiar Visual Basic® and Visual C++® development systems optimized for embedded software development, allowing developers to easily create applications and new system components for any Windows CE design.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

*Nominal shipping and handling charges apply

Microsoft, Windows, DirectX, Windows Media, Visual Basic and Visual C++ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .

Related Posts