• April 10, 2001 •
Microsoft Announces Windows XP Embedded Rapid Development Program
By: Arie Slob
Today at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) San Francisco 2001, Microsoft unveiled the creation of the Windows® XP Embedded Rapid Development Program (RDP). This program is designed to gather in-depth technical feedback from industry partners and customers that are actively developing products and services on the current and future beta versions of Microsoft® Windows XP Embedded. Current participants include Bally Gaming and Systems, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, National Semiconductor Corp., SCM Microsystems Inc., Siemens AG, Toshiba TEC, VenturCom Inc., ViewSonic Corp. and Wyse Technology Inc. These companies will deliver products and services ranging from Windows-based terminals to advanced set-top boxes when Windows XP Embedded ships, which is currently slated to occur within 90 days of the release of the Windows XP desktop in the second half of this year.
"Windows XP Embedded is a major release, and the Windows XP Embedded RDP is a key initiative helping ensure that design scenarios have been thoroughly tested when the product ships," said Bill Veghte, vice president of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft. "This is the first time we have run a program like this in the embedded space and we are excited to have these key industry partners participating closely in the development process."
Windows XP Embedded, is the embedded version of the Windows XP desktop client platform. Similar to the general-purpose offerings, the embedded client and server versions are being developed on separate development schedules. Currently in beta 1, Windows XP Embedded is being developed around three primary design goals: increased componentization, delivery of the latest Windows technology to the embedded space in a timely manner, and reduced time to market via new development and authoring tools. Windows XP Embedded beta 1 is focused on key client scenarios such as Windows-based terminals, advanced set-top boxes and retail point-of-sale kiosks. Currently Windows Embedded includes Windows CE 3.0 and Windows NT® Embedded 4.0.