Microsoft have announced the release of Windows CE 6. Since the Windows CE is the underlying core of our Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone devices, this is an important announcement since it shows the possible way, Windows Mobile might goes.

We may expect that Windows CE 6 will be a basis for Windows Mobile 6.0 (known as "Crossbow") and maybe also for Windows Mobile code name "Photon" (the one that finally unites both Smartphone and Pocket PC into one platform). Windows CE 6 will be the next generation of Microsoft's industry-leading, real-time software used to build customized operating systems for devices such as Internet Protocol (IP) set-top-boxes, Global Positioning System (GPS)-based devices and industrial automation and medical devices.

With the redesigned operating system kernel architecture, expanded capacity for simultaneous processes and a newly integrated tool set, Windows CE 6 will help device makers more quickly create devices that support a range of applications for high-demand categories. Windows CE 6 delivers an even more integrated embedded development environment that is now available via a plug-in for Visual Studio 2005.

The redesigned operating system kernel architecture supports significantly more simultaneously running processes, from 32 up to 32,000 simultaneous processes, each of which run in a 2GB virtual memory address space. This allows developers to incorporate larger numbers of more complex applications into more intelligent devices that offer advanced multimedia and Web services and wireless networking than before. Windows CE 6 provides continuity of features and functionality from previous generations of Windows CE, allowing device makers to utilize their previous investments in user interfaces, applications, middleware and drivers.

he beta release of Windows CE 6 is available to device makers, developers and partners at the Microsoft Mobile & Embedded DevCon 2006. More information about Windows CE 6 can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce.