Worldwide Launch of the .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio 2003

Today at the first Microsoft� Mobility Developer Conference held in the United States, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates discussed the vast potential of the wireless industry and underscored the importance of mobile application development to the evolution of this industry as mobile devices become increasingly programmable and customizable. Gates provided a comprehensive summary of new development tools and programs his company has designed to assist with the creation and delivery of wireless applications.

In his keynote address today, Gates announced the availability of tools that will enable the development of connected wireless applications for next-generation wireless devices, including the launch of the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework and the Windows� Powered Smartphone Software Developer Kit (SDK). He also noted surging developer momentum for Microsoft MapPoint� Web Service. Approximately 3,000 application developers and wireless industry representatives listened as Gates described how software innovations can help ignite a new marketplace for wireless applications and services.

"We want to make it easy for the 7 million Windows developers to build applications and services for the emerging wireless data market by providing familiar, yet customized tools," Gates said. "It's truly an exciting time for mobile application developers and the industry -- there are incredible opportunities."

Worldwide Launch of the .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio 2003

The .NET Compact Framework brings the power of .NET and Web services to mobile devices connecting them to the wealth of data individuals care about. With Visual Studio� .NET 2003, the broad community of Visual Studio developers can easily use existing desktop development skills and seamlessly make the transition to building smart mobile applications for the .NET Compact Framework. Visual Studio .NET 2003 and the .NET Compact Framework offer a single developer tool and a consistent programming model for building applications across a range of devices. With this new capability, Visual Studio developers worldwide are expected to drive the wireless industry forward by creating a wave of new wireless enterprise applications that take advantage of Web services and rich offline data access.

In addition, Gates unveiled a new customer solution using the .NET Compact Framework from The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. (PBG) that is automating several of the company's business processes and that will empower its sales force with better information, reduce operational costs and ultimately increase product sales.

Knowing that developers need device hardware to be truly successful, Microsoft also announced plans to boost mobile development with a promotion to provide 25,000 Visual Studio developers with ViewSonic V37 Pocket PC devices. More details about this program will be available thru the link below.