SAN JOSE, California, April 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- Company announces strategy for product renaming, outlines plan for new 
solutions in key device categories and unveils first developer certification.

Today at Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley 2008 in San Jose,
Microsoft Corp laid out the next phase in its strategy for the Windows
Embedded Business, providing a strategic road map outlining the renaming of
its family of products and plans for new solutions in key device categories.
The new key device category solutions will be offered under the Windows
Embedded Ready name and will ship as preconfigured toolkits providing
device-makers with in-demand market-specific features that allow them to 
build and ship next-generation smart, connected, service-oriented devices 
in an accelerated fashion.

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"With today's strategic road map announcement, our aim is to present the
evolving Windows Embedded product family in an intuitive fashion, making it
easier for our customers to choose the right platforms and tools for their
needs," said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the Windows Embedded Business
at Microsoft. "Windows Embedded solutions for key device categories will
energise our partner ecosystem by enabling new business scenarios and help
lay the foundation for partners to successfully fulfil our vision of a new
generation of smart, connected, service-oriented devices."

The first product release under the new naming strategy will be Windows
Embedded Standard, the next generation of Windows XP Embedded, and will be
launched simultaneously at Tech-Ed North America and through a global webcast
event on 3 June. All presently available Windows Embedded products will be
marketed under their current names until their next scheduled product release
and will remain available for purchase in line with the standard Microsoft
Support Lifecycle policy. The Windows Embedded Ready product line for key
device categories will include the next generation of Windows Embedded for
Point of Service, Windows Embedded POSReady. The Windows Embedded Business
plans to further detail its strategy for the Windows Embedded Ready products
later this calendar year.

The Windows Embedded family of products includes the following:
    -- Windows Embedded Standard. The next generation of Windows XP Embedded.
       The next product release is currently forecast for 2008.
    -- Windows Embedded Compact. The next generation of Windows Embedded CE.
       The next product release is currently forecast for 2009.
    -- Windows Embedded Enterprise. A fully application-compatible embedded
       operating system that over time will gain a broader set of embedded
       enabling features. Today this product group is composed of Windows
       Vista and Windows XP for Embedded Systems and is licensed exclusively
       for embedded device development.
    -- Windows Embedded POSReady. The next generation of Windows Embedded for
       Point of Service. The next product release is currently forecast for
       2009.



Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Developer Certification and Free Training

Furthering its commitment to growing and empowering the developer
community, Microsoft also announced the establishment of Windows Embedded CE
6.0 Certification, the first certification included in the Microsoft
Certification Program for the Windows Embedded product family. A key element
of the Windows Embedded business strategy, the certification will provide a
common reference point on the skills and technical expertise that Microsoft
recommends for all Windows Embedded CE 6.0 developers.

Customers developing projects on Windows Embedded CE will now be able to
identify partners and distributors based on Windows Embedded technical
knowledge. In addition, companies building devices on the Windows Embedded
platform and wanting to hire Windows Embedded CE developers will now be able
to better differentiate between candidates. In support of the certification,
Microsoft is offering a free exam preparation kit for Windows Embedded CE
developers. The kit can be downloaded or viewed online and is localised in
English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, German and French.

The certification exam will be available on 5 May 2008; the official name
of the exam is Exam 70-571: TS: Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Application
Development. It costs $125 (US) and is administered by Prometric testing
centres worldwide. Local testing centres can be found at
http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp. The free preparation
guide will be available on the MSDN Embedded Developer Center at
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-571.mspx.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise
their full potential.

About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 16,000 people in over 64 subsidiaries, delivering products
and services in more than 139 countries and territories.

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