BOSTON, October 28 /PRNewswire/ --

- Next generation of Windows Embedded Standard will offer a richer set of
solutions for building smart, connected, service-oriented devices.

Today at the Embedded Systems Conference Boston, Microsoft Corp.
announced plans for the next generation of Windows Embedded Standard,
code-named "Quebec" to be built on Windows 7. Windows Embedded "Quebec"
delivers powerful next-generation Microsoft technologies including
Silverlight 2, Windows Presentation Foundation and interoperability with
Visual Studio 2010. Alignment with Windows 7 features will give OEMs access
to the skills and contributions of a global community of Windows developers
familiar with Visual Studio. OEMs will be able to quickly develop
applications and drivers for connected device scenarios requiring rich
applications, services and end-user experiences connecting to Windows-based
PCs, servers and Windows Web services.

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Driving Connected Experiences With the Richest Set of Solutions

"Windows Embedded 'Quebec' will provide OEMs with the ability to further
differentiate their devices by taking rich user experiences to the next level
with exciting new input capabilities through multitouch, gesture support and
user interface enhancements," said Kevin Dallas, general manager of the
Windows Embedded Business Unit at Microsoft. "It also will feature a rich set
of componentized operating system technologies and specific features that let
developers optimally size the operating system on their devices with only the
drivers, services and applications they need."

Built on Windows 7, Windows Embedded "Quebec" will offer developers a
powerful, familiar and reliable experience that will include the following
benefits:

-- Rich user experience. The latest Microsoft Silverlight and Windows
Presentation Foundation tools deliver the next generation of media
experiences and rich Internet applications for devices.

-- Enhanced security and control. Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption and
key management to protect data on embedded devices provide greater security.
In addition, Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 will provide defense from
malicious Web sites and keep data private with improved security and
InPrivate Browsing.

-- Enhanced stability and improved performance. The new platform will
offer enhanced stability and improved performance with investment in
multicore architecture, including 64-bit processor support.

-- Extended Web capabilities to the embedded device. Customers will have
the ability to enable Web capabilities to their devices with Internet
Explorer 8 accelerators and Windows Web services, benefitting from powerful,
efficient Web applications, including offline capabilities.

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

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com