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| Microsoft renames embedded automotive OS |
Oct. 21, 2002
Detroit, MI -- (press release) --
Microsoft today announced from Convergence 2002 that it will
change the name of its leading in-vehicle software platform to
'Windows Automotive' from 'Windows CE for Automotive'. This
name change will mark the introduction of the first Microsoft
.NET-connected, voice-enabled software for building
next-generation in-vehicle devices.
"The first
automotive breakthroughs were mechanical and electric, then
electronic," said Dick Brass, vice president of technology
development and charged with the oversight of automotive
efforts at Microsoft. "The next great wave of vehicular
improvement will be fueled by software. We stand at the dawn
of the software vehicle."
Available to automakers,
suppliers and developers in the first half of next year,
Windows Automotive, built on the Windows CE operating system,
is the first Microsoft telematics software platform designed
exclusively for the automotive market to include the .NET
Compact Framework. This technology will enable the industry to
give drivers and passengers seamless access to a wide range of
Web services as well as smooth functionality among all Windows
Powered devices. The platform will have native support for
voice-enabled Bluetooth technology, a short-range wireless
technology that enables devices to interconnect without cables
or wires. It is a low-cost, low-power-consumption, highly
flexible technology expected to become a global standard in
the wireless handset industry.
Recognizing the growing
trend of cell phone and other mobile device use in vehicles,
Microsoft, through its Windows Automotive technology, will
enable drivers and passengers to access the same software and
Web services they already enjoy in their homes and offices.
This will bring the company one step closer to making its
Connected Car vision a reality.
Since Windows CE for
Automotive was first introduced in 1998, telematics has
evolved from one-way communication systems to interactive,
voice-enabled systems capable of delivering applications and
services that range from hands-free cell phone use to music
downloads and real-time traffic updates. For automakers and
suppliers, creating successful telematics solutions requires
not only knowing the needs of today's drivers and passengers,
but also having a flexible, reliable software platform that
delivers the best technical tools for in-vehicle
devices.
Microsoft has been working with the automotive
industry since 1995 to provide great software that delivers
information, entertainment, communication and services in
vehicles. The company works very closely with automakers,
suppliers, aftermarket manufacturers, service providers and
consumers to provide the embedded automotive industry with the
systems and tools for building the next generation of
intelligent, Windows Powered devices that demand rich
applications and access to Internet services for a wide range
of flexible solutions. Windows Automotive is an open platform
that allows developers to quickly create powerful in-car
computing solutions. It offers flexibility, with a choice of
computing platforms, hardware peripherals and software
components, as well as a large community of experienced
developers for Windows CE.
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