Microsoft also disclosed a number of upcoming VoIP-based client devices and services -- including desktop and wireless phones, IP set-top boxes, residential gateways, and thin clients -- running the Windows CE operating system.

In related news, Microsoft unveiled a "tech preview" of Windows CE 5.0 yesterday, at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco.

Microsoft says the updates to the VoIP platform in Windows CE 5.0 will decrease development time for device manufacturers, due to expanded componentization, integrated collaboration features, and an advanced application programming model and user interface.

According to Microsoft, upcoming VoIP features and support in Windows CE 5.0 will include:

• Easy integration with existing infrastructure,
  
• Sophisticated call functionality
  
• A configurable telephony user interface
  
• Multiparty audio conferencing
  
• Exchange Server integration with contact search and calendar functionality
  
• Unified messaging
  
• Automatic provisioning
  
• User identification

In particular, automatic provisioning and user identification will help IT departments simplify deployment and administration of IP phones and VoIP devices, Microsoft says.

Growing assortment of Windows CE based VoIP devices

Microsoft showcased the following IP phones and VoIP devices, which the company says use Windows CE as their embedded operating system:

VoIP phones and devices shown above, from top-left, are: Netsys VoIP appliance; Atrium video conferencing phone; prototype WLAN phone; Samsung IP browser phone; Reddline Systems VoIP gateway; Broadcom IP screen phone; Inter-Tel IP phone; ZTE video conferencing terminal; Wooksung WVP3000; RV Technology VoIP phone.

Newly announced Windows CE based VoIP device manufacturers

Microsoft added the following device and equipment manufacturers to its list of companies developing IP phones and VoIP devices based on Windows CE: Atrium C&I Co. Ltd., Bast Inc., Intermec Technologies Corp., Inter-Tel Integrated Systems Inc., LG Electronics, Mikasa Shoji Co. Ltd., NEC Infrontia Corp., Netsys Corp., Reddline Systems Inc., RV Technology Ltd., Uptech Ltd., Wooksung Electronics Inc and ZTE Corp.

These are in addition to previously announced manufacturers: BCM Computers Co. Ltd., Casio Computer Company Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Samsung Electronics Company Ltd., Symbol Technologies Inc. and Tatung Co., which are delivering innovative IP phones and VoIP-enabled devices running Windows CE, according to Microsoft.

---

Related stories:

• Microsoft unveils tech preview of Windows CE 5.0 (Macallan)
  
• HOT TOPIC: Embedded VoIP
  
• Whitepaper: Microsoft's VoIP Strategy and Plans
  
• SPECIAL REPORT: Microsoft adds VoIP to Windows CE .NET 4.2
  
• Microsoft enhances Windows CE .NET for VoIP client devices
  
• Multimedia "IP endpoint" is powered by Windows CE .NET