REDMOND, Wash. – Dec. 9, 1996 – Microsoft Corp. today announced that it is working with Intel Corp. to port theMicrosoftWindows CE operating system to the Intel Architecture. Today’s announcement brings the number of microprocessor families supported by Windows CE to five and further illustrates how the open Windows CE platform provides manufacturers with a choice of high-performance semiconductors upon which to build new Windows CE-based embedded-system, mobile computing or multimedia product lines. Microsoft previously announced Windows CE support for the SH-3 processor from Hitachi Ltd.; MIPS-based processors from NEC Electronics Inc. and Philips Semiconductors Inc.; Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) -based processors and PowerPC processors.
As part of today’s announcement, Microsoft confirmed that work with Intel on porting Windows CE to Intel 486 and Pentium processors has been under way for quite some time and that the port was nearly complete. Microsoft and Intel anticipate that the two companies will be able to support development of products based on Windows CE and Intel processors, including the Ultra Low Power Intel486 SX, by January 1997.
“Support for Intel Architecture now means that Windows CE is available on the world’s most popular processor,”
said Harel Kodesh, general manager of the consumer appliance group at Microsoft.
“The familiarity that OEMs and software developers have with the x86 platform, as well as its broad availability, makes the Intel Architecture a natural fit for Windows CE-based communications, entertainment and mobile computing devices.”
“Intel is very excited about Windows CE support for the Intel Architecture,”
said Ganesh Moorthy, general manager of the appliance and computing division at Intel.
“Intel Architecture is the logical platform for OEMs and ISVs looking for simple development integration with the PC environment and offers time-to-market advantages by enabling the PC as a native development environment.”
Windows CE is Microsoft’s compact and portable operating system built from the ground up to be appropriate for a broad range of business and consumer devices that can communicate with each other, share information with Windows-based PCs, and connect to the Internet. Categories of devices for which Windows CE is suitable include small form-factor mobile computing devices such as the new handheld PCs,
“wallet”
PCs, wireless communications devices such as digital information pagers and cellular
“smart”
phones, next-generation entertainment and multimedia consoles including DVD players, and purpose-built Internet access devices such as Internet TVs, digital set-top boxes and Internet
“Web phones.”
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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