Today we announced the availability of the Windows Embedded SPARK Your Imagination program.

It is basically a low cost bundle of Software (Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 and Visual Studio 2005 Professional) and Hardware (one reference board from one of five hardware vendors).

This program is aimed principally at hobbyists but students and faculties of course can take  advantage of it as well.

We also announced a new roadmap aimed at simplifying the offering which will be branded "Windows Embedded Ready".

This will mean that the various versions available will be renamed in line with their upgrades and will eventually become:

• Windows Embedded Standard. The next generation of Windows XP Embedded. The next product release is currently forecast for 2008.
• Windows Embedded Compact. The next generation of Windows Embedded CE. The next product release is currently forecast for 2009.
• Windows Embedded Enterprise. A fully application-compatible embedded operating system that over time will gain a broader set of embedded enabling features. Today this product group is composed of Windows Vista and Windows XP for Embedded Systems and is licensed exclusively for embedded device development.
• Windows Embedded POSReady. The next generation of Windows Embedded for Point of Service. The next product release is currently forecast for 2009.

An official certification program for Windows Embedded is also being completed and will be available from Mat 5th 2008.

The official name of the exam is Exam 70-571: TS: Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Application Development. It costs $125 (U.S.) and is administered by Prometric testing centres worldwide. Local testing centres can be found at http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp. The free preparation guide will be available on the MSDN Embedded Developer Centre at http://www.WindowsEmbedded.com/Certification.

What does it mean for students and Universities?

Microsoft Embedded is used in a variety of hardware devices from digital cameras to medical devices, from point of sales machines to digital frames.

Retail technology research firm IHL Group said that Windows dominates in the POS market -- accounting for two-thirds of the $5.56 billion spent on POS terminals in North America during 2007 and they estimate that in pure embedded systems (those with no hard disk) Windows leads with probably 90-95% of the market.

This means that the demand for skilled Windows Embedded developers will keep rising and provide excellent employment opportunities for new graduates. And considering that development on the Windows Embedded platform leverages .NET Micro and Compact framework, the good news is that learning how to develop for it is very simple if one already learned to use the framework...