Microsoft has started its week by announcing two new embedded operating systems. Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 is being released to device manufacturers, while a CTP (community technology preview) of Windows Embedded POSReady 7 is now downloadable by retailers and other interested testers.
We commented on Friday that, while Microsoft's embedded operating systems didn't get much attention at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Redmond would be spotlighting them at this week's National Retail Federation (NRF) show in New York.
As it turns out, we didn't know the half of it: Two new Windows Embedded operating systems have been announced in conjunction with the event.The first offering -- Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 -- was expected and in fact is appearing just slightly later than originally promised. The second, Windows Embedded POSReady 7, is a logical successor to Microsoft's POSReady 2009 but had not been leaked before today as far as we're aware.
Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5
Microsoft's Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 was first announced last June at a Microsoft/Motorola event held at the New York Stock Exchange. Appearing via video (below), Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said, "In the next six months we will release a new embedded OS called Windows Embedded Handheld ... based on Windows Mobile 6.5 technologies ... [and] in the second half of 2011, we will release a version of Windows Embedded Handheld based on Windows 7 technology."
Steve Ballmer introduces the Windows Embedded Handheld OS
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Windows Embedded Senior Product Manager David Wurster then clarified the remarks in an interview with our sister publication eWEEK, saying, "The first release under the [Windows Embedded Handheld] brand is scheduled to come this calendar year and build on the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform with trusted management and security features, as well as enhanced protection for existing enterprise investments in line-of-business applications on devices."
A future version known as Windows Embedded Handheld 7 will be available during the second half of 2011, Wurster was quoted as saying. That version will be based on Windows Embedded Compact 7 and will feature a "different set of developer tools and experiences," he is said to have added.
In a blog posting earlier today, Wurster wrote, "I'm pleased to announced the availability of Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5." The operating system is aimed at enterprise handheld devices and is built on Windows Mobile 6.5, he added.
Wurster stated, "Mobile device makers using Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 will find a familiar, consistent development platform that helps speed time-to-market. These device makers can take advantage of Windows Mobile 6.5s large community of hardware and software vendors, which supply a wide variety of off-the-shelf and custom solutions."
While Windows Embedded Handheld 7 is still on track for release, Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 will be provided with "mainstream support" through December 2014, and extended support through December 2019, Wurster added.
Meanwhile, 6.5's availability should lessen the minor confusion that has reigned in the enterprise handheld space, whereby vendors of otherwise-identical devices -- Motorola's MC3100, to name one example -- had to offer a choice of Windows CE or Windows Mobile, depending on whether voice telephony was included.
At the June 2009 announcement of Windows Embedded Handheld, Motorola talked about the new operating system as it unveiled its ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant (right). That device, however, initially offered Windows Mobile 6.5.3, skinned with an interface known as the MEUI (Motorola Enterprise User Interface).
Related to Windows Phone 7 only by its fundamental Windows CE operating system core, Windows Embedded Standard 6.5 is backward-compatible with applications written for Windows Mobile and, in many cases, Windows CE. It is also attractive to enterprise customers because it works with their existing management frameworks.
Hence, while Google's Android OS is increasingly gaining the limelight when it comes to consumer smartphones, it hasn't made much headway in the world of enterprise handhelds, where Microsoft's partners include Intermec, Honeywell, Motorola, and many others. And, as we've reported recently, Motorola is now two companies: the Android-focused Motorola Mobility, and the Windows handheld manufacturer Motorola Solutions.
According to VDC Research findings cited by Microsoft, WindowsCE and Windows Mobile accounted for 87 percent of the approximately 2.3 million ruggedized handheld devices shipped in 2009.
Windows Embedded POSReady 7
Microsoft's other new embedded operating system hadn't been previously named by the company (at least as far as we're aware), but is an entirely logical development. Windows Embedded POSReady 7 (below) is an OS and software stack for retailers that will eventually replace the currently offered Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 -- announced at the 2009 NRF Show -- and the previous Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS).
Microsoft's Windows Embedded POSReady 7
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According to a quick start guide provided with the downloadable public CTP of Windows Embedded POSReady 7, the new OS is "based on Windows 7 and benefits from many of the new features available in Windows 7 that are sure to enhance point of service deployments." These include better power management and manageability enhancements, the document adds.
Microsoft further highlights "embedded specific enhancements tohelp lock down public facing devices." These are said to include:
* write filters forcreating stateless or semi-stateless environments
* suppression of unwanted dialog message boxes
* a keyboard filter for suppressing unwanted keystrokes such as CTRL+ALT+DEL,ALT+F4, Windows+L, and custom-defined keystrokecombinations
We haven't seen a timetable for the rollout of Windows Embedded POSReady 7, but a Microsoft announcement in this regard is likely to appear during the course of the NRF show.
Meanwhile, well-connected Microsoft watcher Mary-Jo Foley quotes officials as saying a final version will appear before the end of this calendar year. Today's downloadable preview release will expire on Oct. 31, according to Microsoft.
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