| SPECIAL REPORT: Gates spotlights Microsoft's growing focus on mobile devices |
Mar. 20, 2003
[Updated 11:00am PST] -- Delivering the keynote at the Mobility Developers Conference in New Orleans last night, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates called attention to the company's growing focus on the "digital decade" through increased research and investment in mobile computing technologies, products, and development tools.
As part of the strategy to promote Microsoft-based mobile device development, Gates unveiled the final version of the .NET Compact Framework that will be included with Visual Studio .NET 2003. and announced extensive customer and partner support for Microsoft embedded platforms.
The .NET Framework and the .NET Compact Framework are intended to provide a development environment compatible across all Microsoft Windows-based platforms and expose that programming model through a single unified tool set. Through the Visual Studio .NET 2003's tool set, desktop Visual Basic developers, and a rapidly growing developer base adopting the C# programming language, smart mobile applications are coming to market, Gates said.
Features of the .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio .NET 2003 are said to include "support for XML and Web services; the ability to integrate components written in multiple programming languages; and developer productivity features such as integrated rich device emulator support, a visual drag-and-drop forms designer, a comprehensive set of user interface controls, remote debugging support, and simplified application deployment."
Gates also committed to working more closely with the development community and revealed a program to arm 25,000 developers with ViewSonic's V37 Pocket PC device. The V37's features are reported to include a 3.5-inch transflective screen, Intel 400MHz XScale processor, 64MB of SDRAM and 64MB of ROM, and will include the .NET Compact Framework in ROM. Details about registration for this program are available here.
To provide added perspective, WindowsForDevices.com brings you this Special Report, which includes pointers to the text and a video of the Gates keynote, and also provides a roundup of some of the more significant news stories surrounding this development . . . - Keynote talk by Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Bill Gates -- read the full text of the speech or watch the video (runs 1 hour, 25 minutes). Story
- Press release: Microsoft, The Pepsi Bottling Group, and Shelflink Announce New Mobile Solution Built on the .NET Compact Framework -- Pepsi and Shelflink announced that they have jointly developed a new "smart mobile solution" utilizing the .NET Compact Framework running on a custom-built Symbol Technologies Pocket PC, for use by 6,000 sales reps. Pepsi expects the system to "drastically reduce operational costs while increasing the sales capabilities of its sales force." Story
- CNET: Gates woos developers for wireless -- CNET reports that Microsoft hopes to "entice developers, particularly those in corporations, to write customized business applications using Microsoft's Pocket PC and Smartphone operating systems." The CNET article also reveals more details about the Viewsonic V37 Pocket PC. Said David Rasmussen, lead product manager for the .Net mobile developers platform reveals that "In the next upgrade to the Pocket PC operating system, all Pocket PCs will have the .Net software embedded in the same way onto the machine." Story
- CRN: Bill Gates and Microsoft's Mobile Computing Manifesto -- CRN points out that Microsoft has committed ""significant" investments in mobility platforms in their ccoverage of Bill Gate's anouncements at CTIA. On Microsoft's goal, they report "Microsoft is encouraging companies to build components that help developers work with wireless operators to offer a catalog of applications customers can easily download." Story
- PC World: Gates Highlights Microsoft's Mobile Focus -- PC World points out that Microsoft has declared its' "intention to play a major role in the mobile software business." They report that the "software maker intends to make it easy for developers to create applications for platforms ranging from PCs to intelligent wireless wristwatches." Story
- Internet News: Mobility will be Fastest Growing MS Business -- Internet News points out that Microsoft is positioning its .NET Framework to play a key role in a strategy to position "devices in all form factors working together intelligently to create a rich user experience. That doesn't just mean PDAs and Smartphones, he said. It includes large-screen wall panels designed to be viewed from a distance and operated by remote control, the new Tablet PCs powered by Microsoft, Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) watches, even desktops which can interact with Smartphones." Story
Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.
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