During Microsoft's 2008 fiscal year, which ended Jun. 30, Windows Embedded revenue in China was up more than 85 percent compared to FY 2007, the company says. In another measure of success, the number of "engaged partners" in the country is said to have tripled in the last two years, to more than 43.
Comtech Communication is described by Microsoft as "China's leading module design solutions provider, serving more than 1,000 manufacturers in the mobile handset, telecom equipment, industrial and consumer markets." Using Windows Embedded products will allow Comtech to customize module designs to OEMs' specific needs, and accelerate time-to-market, the software giant adds.
"Partnering with Comtech definitely strengthens our partner ecosystem in China, says John Boladian, a Microsoft marketing director for Windows Embedded. "As demand for embedded systems and devices such as point of sale (POS) and GPS devices increase, we aim to expand the existing Windows Embedded partner ecosystem of developers, device makers, and distributors, and contribute significantly to support industry growth."
Last March, Microsoft announced that China is the fastest-growing market in Asia for its Windows Embedded business. It also said that by the end of the year, it would have up to 15 engineers working in Beijing in an MESDC (Microsoft Embedded Systems Development Center). The new MESDC comprised a "significant part" of the $75 million global R&D investment made by the Windows Embedded business made during FY 08, the company added.
The appointment of Comtech brings the number of authorized Windows Embedded distributors in China to four. The other three are
Advantech,
Avnet subsidiary Sunrise Logistics Shanghai, and
Synnex.
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