Microsoft Outlines Business Opportunities for Hardware Makers Across Windows Platform

TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 1 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- During a keynote address tomorrow at COMPUTEX TAIPEI, Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Division at Microsoft Corp., will outline how the company continues to deliver expanded partner opportunities to support rich and connected experiences. Product demonstrations will showcase the diversity and breadth of devices supported across the Windows platform, including desktop PCs, smartphones, netbooks, laptops, tablets, slates, game consoles, set-top boxes and servers. He will also discuss the enthusiastic response from partners and the larger market to the latest version of the Windows operating system, Windows 7. Since its launch this past October, more than 100 million licenses have been sold, making it the fastest-selling operating system in history.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100601/HKTU005 )

As part of this effort to deliver richer customer experiences across a variety of scenarios, Microsoft will unveil the public community technology preview (CTP) for Windows Embedded Compact 7, the next generation of Microsoft's widely used Windows Embedded Compact platform for hardware manufacturers of specialized devices. With a $9.5 billion annual investment in research and development, Microsoft is committed to continued innovation and bringing new products to market that meet the needs of customers.

"The Windows platform creates tangible opportunities for our hardware partners to diversify their product portfolios and deliver rich computing experiences across a broad range of devices," Guggenheimer said. "The Windows Embedded Compact 7 toolkit will allow for richer customer experiences on a variety of specialized devices. We look forward to continued collaboration with our hardware partners to bring the very best experiences to customers worldwide."

Windows Embedded Compact 7

During the keynote address, Guggenheimer will demonstrate how specialized devices built on Windows Embedded Compact 7 will be able to provide immersive multimedia user experiences for consumers and businesses and offer seamless connectivity to PCs running Windows 7, servers and online services, as well as simplified access to corporate information for enterprise users. New technologies in Windows Embedded Compact 7 will provide developers and designers with powerful tools and a streamlined development experience to build compelling devices quickly and easily, while also providing customized and branded experiences.

Additional features and capabilities of Windows Embedded Compact 7 include the following:

    -- Rich and connected experiences for consumers. Windows Embedded Compact
       7 gives consumers the ability to share and manage content across
       networked devices with Digital Living Network Alliance, such as new
       HDTVs, and a new media library.
    -- Simplified access to information for enterprise users. Windows Embedded
       Compact 7 makes it easier to connect to corporate e-mail, calendar and
       contacts over enterprise networks through Microsoft AirSync and
       Microsoft Exchange, as well as to Microsoft Office and Adobe PDF
       viewers to access important documents, and to Windows 7 Device Stage to
       transfer data and media between PCs and devices.
    -- Resources for hardware manufacturers and developers. Windows Embedded
       Compact 7 provides resources to help bring high-performing, highly
       reliable and differentiated specialty devices to market quicker with
       support for multicore and the latest asset relationship
       management-based architecture and tools, including Platform Builder,
       Visual Studio, Expression Blend and Silverlight for Windows Embedded.

The Windows Embedded Compact 7 CTP is available now for developers at http://www.windowsembedded.com/compact7 . The platform is expected to be released to manufacturing in the fourth quarter of this year.

During the keynote, Guggenheimer will also outline how hardware manufacturers can take advantage of the next wave of Microsoft products, including Windows 7, Windows Embedded Compact 7, Windows Live Messenger, Windows(R) Phone 7, Windows Server and Microsoft Office 2010, to deliver unique and compelling experiences across multiple devices and screens. He will demonstrate the power of Microsoft software on devices from smartphones to TVs and everything in between; Windows Live as a cloud service working across devices for a seamless, interactive experience; exciting developments on Windows-based slate devices; and a variety of scenarios highlighting the customer benefits of Microsoft's deep collaboration with hardware manufacturers.

Highlights from Guggenheimer's keynote -- including demos, video excerpts and a transcript -- and more detailed information on Windows Embedded Compact 7 will be available by visiting the Windows Embedded Newsroom at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/embedded/default.aspx or by following http://twitter.com/MSFTWEB for updates.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

    APPENDIX

      Microsoft to Showcase Over 100 Innovative Devices From 60 Hardware
                          Manufacturers at COMPUTEX

    Microsoft Corporate Vice President to Demonstrate Software + Hardware
                   Innovation and Cloud Computing Approach

Taipei -- June 1, 2010 -- At this year's COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2010, Microsoft will showcase a broad range of innovative devices running on its software from manufacturers around the world. Specifically, Microsoft's booth and keynote will highlight a range of consumer and business devices including desktop PCs, smartphones, netbooks, laptops, tablets, slates, game consoles, set-top boxes and servers from China, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Canada, USA, Germany, Portugal, and other global markets. Starting 1st June 2010, Microsoft welcomes you to visit its booth at Taipei World Trade Center, Nangang Exhibition Hall (Booth # L108).

Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president, original equipment manufacturer division at Microsoft Corporation, expressed, "Microsoft's exhibition at this year's COMPUTEX TAIPEI, is an incredible display of the breadth of devices supported across our software platform. Attendees will have an opportunity to see an impressive line-up of new Microsoft product innovations, and the power of software across connected devices. Together, the hardware and software create endless opportunity for our partners." The Microsoft COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2010 exhibition highlights include:

    1. Hardware Showcase -- 60 hardware manufacturers from China, Japan, South
       Korea, Argentina, Canada, USA, Germany, Portugal, and other global
       markets will join Microsoft to demonstrate many industry-leading
       products and technologies. Come see the hottest new products!
    2. Unprecedented Exhibition Scale -- Over 100 devices from Acer, AdvanPOS,
       Advantech, ASUS, Ciara, Dell, Fujitsu, Firich, Gigabyte, Hanwang, HP,
       HTC, Lenovo, LG, MSI, MiTAC, Posiflex, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Unitech
       etc. will be displayed in the Microsoft booth. Devices shown will
       include desktop PCs, smartphones, netbooks, laptops, tablets, slates,
       game consoles, set-top boxes and servers across scenarios for home and
       business use, entertainment, mobile communications, auto navigation,
       and more.
    3. Cloud Computing Forum -- Join Microsoft at the annual COMPUTEX TAIPEI
       Forum where Microsoft Corporate Vice President will reveal the
       company's next-generation cloud computing approach, technology
       application trends and industry opportunities.

Guggenheimer will deliver his third annual keynote on June 2, 2010 (Wednesday) on "Microsoft Innovation= Partner Opportunities". He will share Microsoft's approach to cloud computing, discussing the role of software in connecting cloud-based services across intelligent devices to bring seamless experiences to customers. His speech will take place at 1.30pm, Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), 3rd Floor, Plenary Hall. For more information, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/taiwan/COMPUTEX2010 .

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.