REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 16, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced SQL Server (TM)
2000 Windows® CE Edition 2.0 (SQL Server CE 2.0) and the second beta release of the Microsoft® .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio® .NET smart device programming features, which constitute the most complete solution for building and deploying mobile .NET applications. SQL Server CE 2.0 is the next version of the compact database that extends enterprise data management capabilities to smart devices. The .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio .NET are Microsofts developer platform and tools that bring the benefits of .NET application development, including full support for XML Web services, to smart mobile devices.
Microsoft also today took the wraps off a surging partner community committed to delivering add-on solutions for .NET mobile development. With Microsofts mobile platform and partner technologies, developers benefit from a tightly integrated solution that provides familiar database technology and a consistent programming model and toolset across device, desktop and server.
“Were delivering a complete, coherent mobile development platform so that .NET developers can hit the ground running to create and deploy smarter mobile applications,”
said Tom Button, vice president of the Developer Platform and Evangelism Division at Microsoft.
“The vast community of .NET programmers will bring a new level of skill and imagination to mobile development, which will ultimately translate into powerful new applications for enterprise end users.”
SQL Server CE 2.0, available today for download, is the compact database for rapidly developing applications that extend enterprise data management capabilities to devices. Version 2.0 integrates with the .NET Compact Framework through Visual Studio .NET smart device features, providing application users, developers and database administrators with a highly flexible, easy-to-use platform for mobile applications. With SQL Server CE 2.0, users have the ability to store rich data locally on smart devices for offline use when there is no connectivity to the back-end database server. This version includes performance improvements as well as new features, such as a connectivity wizard, intrinsic functions and an enhanced on-device query tool, that allow for easy deployment. SQL Server 2000, with SQL Server CE 2.0, offers an end-to-end solution that enables enterprises to extend their data out to smart devices in new ways to enhance their business and productivity. Microsoft is seeing tremendous support for SQL Server CE 2.0 from customers such as Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Eagle Rock Distributing Co., and Kraft Foods North America – Nabisco Biscuit and Snacks Group.
”
Using SQL Server CE
together with the .NET Compact Framework and SQL Server 2000 gave Pen Rite
Systems a suite of integrated development solutions providing seamless replication between 300 distributed, disconnected databases and the central server,”
said Richard Peirini, CEO of Pen Rite Systems Inc.
“The development tools allowed us to quickly create custom controls, integrate peripherals such as scanners and modems quickly, and provide our client, GlaxoSmithKline, with an application that had immediate access to enterprise data on the device, reducing the store call time by more than 50 percent.”
The .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio .NET are Microsofts developer platform and tools for programming applications for smart devices. The .NET Compact Framework provides key features for smart devices such as a programming model unified with the .NET Framework on the desktop, integral support for XML Web services, enterprise-class data access using ADO.NET and XML, and rich class libraries that enable developers to build powerful applications in minimal time. Visual Studio .NET includes smart device features that transparently extend the development experience to mobile development. Through Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Compact Framework, developers have a single integrated development environment (IDE) and programming model for developing applications ranging from the largest servers to the smallest devices.
“The .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio .NET complement Xerox Global Services commitment to mobilize our people with devices and applications that improve operational efficiency,”
said Ken Kaisen, vice president and general manager, Xerox Office Solutions and Services.
“The .NET Compact Framework enables Xerox to extend the functionality of our server-based asset management applications to mobile devices, allowing our on-site staff to receive e-mail alerts as well as access and input information in real time, which reduces downtime and improves our clients productivity.”
The .NET Compact Framework beta 2 will be delivered today as part of an initial private beta release of Visual Studio
“Everett”
the next version of Microsofts flagship development tool that will be available to all current registered beta 1 customers. More information about the .NET Compact Framework beta 2 is available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/device/compact.asp .
Partners Announce Solutions to Complement Microsofts Mobile Platform
Microsoft today also unveiled a growing partner community dedicated to delivering solutions that enrich the development and deployment of and access to mobile .NET applications. This creates a win-win situation for Microsoft and its large ISV community and benefits developers, who reap rewards through a broad range of tool offerings, all available within a single, familiar IDE. Partners announcing add-on solutions today include /n software Inc., Agilent Technologies, Accompany ME Technology, Computer Associates International Inc., eDial Inc., FlyteComm Corp., FMS Inc., GeoComm Systems, GeoVector Corp., MakeLogic, Intrinsyc Software Inc., Numeric Computer Systems Inc., PreEmptive Solutions Inc., SoftWIRE Technology, Sylvan Ascent Inc., Vertigo Software Inc. and Xceed Software Inc. Other companies, including Entrada, Nevalon Technologies LLC and Pen Rite Systems, are providing complementary solutions using SQL Server CE 2.0 today to speed and simplify the development of mobile software applications that increase customer productivity.
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.
Microsoft, Windows and Visual Studio 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.
For more information on the .NET Compact Framework:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/device/compact.asp
For more information on Visual Studio .NET:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/device/sde.asp
For more information on SQL Server CE 2.0:
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/CE/default.asp
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