REDMOND, Wash., May 21, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the creation of its new Automotive Solution Provider (SP) Program, designed to provide specialized systems integration and consulting services to companies that build applications and services around the Microsoft® Windows® CE for Automotive operating system.
The SPs are prequalified organizations that have demonstrated knowledge and expertise developing products using the Windows CE for Automotive (WCEfA) platform. The SPs are an additional resource for information and services, including application development, platform development, platform verification, test plan creation, code reviews and test execution. Microsoft focused on SPs with skills in three areas: Windows CE for Automotive platform development, WCEfA application development, and testing and quality assurance of WCEfA devices.
“Having qualified solution providers available is a great help to Windows CE for Automotive product engineering efforts,”
said Nilesh Patel, product development software supervisor for Visteon Corp., in Allen Park, Mich.
“In the past, we have successfully used resources from several companies to support our automotive development projects.”
The SPs all represent a subset of suppliers with specialized skills and experience in the automotive industry. They are already members of the Windows Embedded Partner Program, which provides industry partners with the opportunity to be involved in a community that can help deliver products and services enhanced by the Windows Embedded family of products.
“This has been an incredibly successful year for our Windows CE for Automotive partners, and we are excited about the continued industry adoption of Microsoft’s automotive offerings,”
said Bob McKenzie, general manager of the Automotive Business Unit at Microsoft.
“This is the first time we have developed a program like this in the automotive space, and we are very excited that these leading companies are working with us and investing to build a growing business around the Windows CE for Automotive platform. This level of commitment and support makes our Windows CE for Automotive platform the best choice for in-vehicle applications.”
More information about the Automotive Solution Provider Program is available on the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/automotive/ .
About Windows CE for Automotive
Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive is an operating system built on Windows CE technology to make possible new categories of in-car computers that are capable of providing drivers and passengers with hands-free communication, access to personalized information on the Internet, the ability to summon emergency services and roadside assistance, and an array of convenience and entertainment applications. Windows CE for Automotive is an open platform that allows developers to quickly create powerful in-car computing solutions. It offers flexibility and choice of computing platforms, hardware peripherals and software components as well as a large community of developers familiar with Windows CE.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
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