The new capabilities will be implemented as part of the upcoming "Whidbey" release of Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft .NET Compact Framework, and will include managed-code APIs as well as expanded support for various screen resolutions. Microsoft also announced an upgrade to the Windows Mobile Smartphone Device Developer Kit, which is used for developing applications for Windows Mobile 2003 software for Smartphones.

"Our Windows Mobile platform has experienced very positive growth over the past two years, in terms of unit volume and a broader range of Windows Mobile-based products available to customers," noted Juha Christensen, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Mobile Devices Division. "There has never been a more attractive addressable opportunity for developers. We've built Windows Mobile software with the future in mind, to evolve as the market expands, enabling desktop and mobile developers to take advantage of the volume opportunity for smart devices and deliver innovative applications and services to market."

The recent U.S. availability of the Motorola MPx200 with Windows Mobile software and the European launch of the Orange SPV E200 with Windows Mobile software presents an expanding opportunity for professional Windows developers to apply their existing skills to Smartphone application development, Microsoft said. According to Microsoft, more than 11,000 applications have already been registered by Microsoft's Mobile Solution Partners, and that there are more than 380,000 professional Windows Mobile developers worldwide who are "poised to take advantage of this new and rapidly growing market."

Tool upgrades planned

Microsoft said it is adding support for several new screen resolutions to the Windows Mobile platform, including square screen, portrait, and landscape, along with VGA, and QVGA. The added options will enable increased differentiation among devices.

According to Microsoft, the new version of Visual Studio ("Whidbey") will be the first development tool for Windows Mobile developers that unifies the development environment to include the native Microsoft Visual C++development system, managed Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and Microsoft Visual C# development tool, and Web ASP.NET Mobile controls -- all within a single integrated development environment.

Major enhancements are also planned for the .NET Compact Framework, impacting both the core run-time environment and the base class libraries, resulting in improved overall performance, better native interoperability with COM interop functionality, and a richer set of base class libraries, Microsoft said. Additionally, the Windows Mobile development platform's support for .NET will be further enhanced with a managed code API set that adds support for messaging, telephony, multimedia and gaming, connectivity, and personal information management (PIM).

Smartphone Device Developer Kit upgrade

Microsoft also announced an upgrade to the Smartphone Device Developer Kit. According to Microsoft, the kit includes everything needed to build, test, and deploy Window Mobile-based Smartphone applications, including a precommercial Windows Mobile-based Smartphone with 2003 software and accessories, a null SIM card, and development tools and resources. Information on how to obtain the Windows Mobile Smartphone Device Developer Kit (including pricing) can be found here.