REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 9, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Microsoft® Windows NT® Embedded 4.0 operating system is available to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) building embedded devices. By releasing Windows NT Embedded 4.0, Microsoft has expanded the range of solutions possible with the Windows NT platform into new vertical segments such as telecommunications, retail point-of-sale terminals, manufacturing, office automation, medical devices and Internet appliances. OEMs developing solutions based on Windows NT Embedded 4.0 are now able to finalize their designs and rapidly bring the next generation of embedded devices to market.
Historically, embedded systems vendors have developed closed solutions based on fragmented and proprietary platforms. Windows NT Embedded 4.0 provides a comprehensive open systems set of technologies from which vendors can choose operating system features; this results in tailored functionality for embedded products, reducing system requirements and costs. Powerful authoring tools make it easy for developers to integrate Windows NT Embedded 4.0 into their designs and allow them to spend less time developing and supporting proprietary operating system code. Windows NT Embedded 4.0 was developed for systems in the middle and high end of the embedded space, including vertical segments such as telecommunications, retail point-of-sale terminals, manufacturing, office automation, medical devices and Internet appliances.
“Developers building embedded devices now have an open, reliable platform from which they can create innovative new solutions and bring them to market faster than ever,” said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of the Platforms Division at Microsoft. “These solutions based on Windows NT Embedded 4.0 will enable customers to streamline and automate processes through the use of a wide ranges of new intelligent devices.”
Windows NT Embedded 4.0 delivers a variety of new features designed specifically for the embedded developer, such as support for headless operation (in which no mouse, keyboard or display devices are required), diskless operation (in which users can operate from read-only media such as CD-ROMs or FLASH) and remote management infrastructure. It also includes the complete set of features and functionality already included in the Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0 platforms, including the latest Service Pack, version 5. By delivering high connectivity, full binary compatibility with the Win32® API and Windows NT driver model, and tight integration with the Microsoft BackOffice® family, Microsoft is meeting the device requirements that OEMs need from Windows NT Embedded 4.0. Microsoft is also delivering Target Designer, the authoring tool developers will use to select Windows NT platform components, and Component Designer, which will help developers integrate applications and third-party components.
“We were impressed with how fast we are able to get our product from idea to implementation with Windows NT Embedded 4.0,” said Philip Coelho, CEO and chairman of ThermoGenesis Corp. “With the strong networking in Windows NT Embedded 4.0, we are building more functionally robust devices than would have been previously possible.”
Pricing and Availability
Microsoft has developed a scalable development tool and run-time pricing model for Windows NT Embedded 4.0, designed to be applicable to the wide range of devices in which it will be used. Windows NT Embedded 4.0 will be sold on a per-seat basis and will include the necessary componentized binaries, embedded enhancements and authoring tools. The run-time pricing model is based on the level of functionality developers will use in their final design. The four-class model breaks down as follows:
Full Windows NT Workstation 4.0 functionality without a graphical user interface (GUI)
Full Windows NT Workstation 4.0 functionality with a GUI
Full Windows NT Server 4.0 functionality without a GUI
Full Windows NT Server 4.0 functionality with a GUI and the ability to act as a primary domain controller (PDC)
Pricing quotes are available from Windows NT Embedded 4.0 distributors, which can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/embedded/ .
About Microsoft
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.
Microsoft, Windows NT, Win32 and BackOffice are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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Addendum
There are a number of companies who have committed to working with and building their next-generation devices on Windows NT Embedded 4.0. Here are some of them:
ABB Power Systems
Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
Advanced Technology Research SA
Axxess Technologies Inc.
Beckhoff Industrie Elektronik
Blue Ridge Networks
BlueWater Systems Inc.
Bus-Tech Inc.
CDS Technologies
Cell Computing Inc.
Cherry GmbH
Cimetrix Inc.
Compuware Corp.
Cortex Vision Systems Inc.
Dennow Co. Ltd.
Digital Access Corp.
DML Associates Inc.
Elipse Software
Embedded Automation
Focon Electronic Systems A/S
General Software Inc.
Gespac SA
Giacobbo Microtechnique Engineering
Goman Research Ltd.
Hewlett-Packard Co.
ICON Intelligent Control GmbH
Infobolsa SA
integrated software concepts GmbH
Interlog Internet Services
It’s Embedded Inc.
Kinetic Computer Corp.
KVB Enertec Inc.
Lucent Technologies Inc.
Magellan Network Systems Inc.
MEN Micro US
MEN Mikro Elektronik Europe
Mettler-Toledo (Albstadt)
Mixed Signals/ULTECH
National Semiconductor Corp.
Natural MicroSystems Corp.
Netier Technologies, Inc.
Network Computing Devices Inc.
Network Engines Inc.
Nextest Systems Corp.
NT-Integrator AS
Octagon Systems Corp.
Optibase Ltd.
PEP Modular Computers GmbH
Periphere nv
Pierre Mulder & Associates
Pigeon Point Systems
Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Pilz Industrieelektronik GmbH
Polytronics Design Ltd.
Quad Research
QuesCom Inc.
RANE/Davis Technology Group
Real Time Development Corp.
Siemens Information and Communication Products
Softing GmbH
Stellcom Inc.
STMicroelectronics
StorLogic Inc.
Syslogic Datentechnik AG
TCOM Inc.
Toshiba America Information Systems Inc.
Tricord Systems Inc.
Vanion Inc.
VBS Inc.
VenturCom Inc.
VersaLogic Corp.
Virtual Media International Inc.
VirtualFund.com Inc.
VISCOM Visual Communications
Vox2 Inc.
