BIOS: Technology Means Business

Microsoft has unveiled an update to its operating system for Pocket PCs and smart phones. Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition adds a range of new functionality, most of which centre around display capabilities. For instance, the OS now supports square screens and a VGA (640x480 pixels) resolution, in addition to the standard QVGA (240x320 pixels) resolution used by most current Pocket PCs. It also offers portrait and landscape orientations, which can be switched dynamically. Other key additions include an improved Start Menu, which will remember recently-used applications, more control over font sizes, improved screen wrapping in Internet Explorer, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and improvements for the Phone Edition variant, including voice tags. There's now also the ability for Pocket PC users to dial from the Today Screen, while smart phones will gain QVGA resolution support, a native MMS client and customisation of the Home screen. The software is likely to appear first in Motorola's tri-band MPx (see images).

Pros: Supports VGA resolution, screen rotation and WPA
Cons: Products won't likely appear until early 2005

Release: Microsoft has continued to deliver on its commitment to mobile and Microsoft Windows developers by unveiling the new Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software focused on enabling unprecedented hardware innovation and application development. In addition, Microsoft delivered the Visual Studio 2005 Community Technology Preview that provides valuable developer resources and announced a Mobile2Market contest to assist developers with application promotion and distribution opportunities.

'The convergence of the mobile and PC development environments represents a tremendous opportunity for software innovation. Microsoft is proud to support our hardware partners and the developer community by providing innovative software like the new Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software,' said Ya-Qin Zhang, corporate vice president of product development for the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft. 'At this show, we are also focused on providing the best integrated tools and technical resources that will ignite application development and bring new value to customers and the mobile industry.'

Microsoft showcased Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software, the newest version of the Windows Mobile software platform, which offers new functionality and fosters device and application innovation. The Windows Mobile platform adds support for dynamic screen switching between landscape and portrait modes and square screen resolution support that enables smaller devices with keyboards - both of which are platform firsts. Additional features include VGA and QVGA that support high-resolution displays for Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones, respectively.

'The Motorola MPx with a unique, compact dual-hinge design is one of the first devices that take advantage of key capabilities enabled by Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software,' said Michael Tatelman, vice president and general manager of the MOTOPro group, Motorola Mobile Handset Business. 'Microsoft's continued commitment to drive innovation and engage with the developer community is beneficial in providing our customers with a robust set of applications and solutions that, when combined with the MOTOPro Innovation Platform, deliver a powerful wireless experience.'

With this release, Microsoft is focused on enabling hardware diversity while preserving platform consistency. Hardware diversity facilitates creation of exciting new form factors by device makers to address specific market needs. Platform consistency enables developers to reach a large addressable market with a single code base. Also benefiting developers is Microsoft's updated Windows Mobile Developer Resource Kit, which allows developers to easily create new applications and services based on the new software and thus benefit directly from the new functionality expected, such as higher-resolution screens and new form factors.

This kit includes eight new white papers focused on Windows Mobile development and new and updated code samples, Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition emulators, embedded Visual C++ 4.0 SP3, and Windows Mobile 2003 SDKs. 'Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software creates an opportunity to bring our existing solutions to a new generation of innovative devices,' said John Psuik, president and CEO of Developer One. 'Microsoft's new software has enabled us to build new, innovative solutions for our customers that take advantage of new display functionality like support for landscape orientation and high-resolution screens.'

Today at the event Microsoft released a Community Technology Preview version of Visual Studio 2005 to provide developers with a glimpse of future tools. This preview version includes the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 2.0, which enables smart device development. It is the first deliverable in a series of prebeta Community Technical Preview versions of Visual Studio 2005 that will be distributed to target segments of the developer community and are intended to help developers plan for future projects, evaluate Microsoft's development tools, and provide feedback to Microsoft throughout the development process.

In addition, Microsoft highlighted great momentum around the .NET Compact Framework, launched at last year's conference. This includes a growing partner roster and positive feedback from partners and customers that have realised the benefits of the combination of the familiar Visual Studio development environment and the .NET Compact Framework for building smart device applications. Customers are seeing cost reductions and increased productivity benefits with this combination of tools. Landmark Graphics Corp., for one, has cut its development costs by 40 per cent to 50 per cent using Microsoft .NET technology. The combination of Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Compact Framework has proved to be an efficient and very productive environment for building Windows Mobile-based applications.

Microsoft's Mobile2Market program is designed to help commercial developers connect with multiple distribution channels including retailers, e-tailers, original equipment manufacturers and mobile operators. To date, 40 distributors including 22 mobile operators have requested and received access to Microsoft's catalogue of applications for Windows Mobile-based devices.

Building on the current success of the Mobile2Market program, Microsoft announced the $100,000 Mobile2Market application contest. Four grand prizes of $25,000 and application promotion and distribution opportunities will be awarded to four independent software vendors in the following categories: Smartphone Work, Smartphone Play, Pocket PC Work and Pocket PC Play.