Microsoft will officially launch its Windows CE 6.0 OS for embedded and mobile devices in the first half of its fiscal year 2007 (July 2006-June 2007), a move which is likely to bring Windows CE 6.0-powered handheld devices to the market early next year, according to Eddie Wu, Microsoft's senior director of device solutions sales, Asia and worldwide ODM ecosystems.
Wu made the remark yesterday in Taipei as the software giant launched a beta version of its Windows CE 6.0 in the Taiwan market.
According to Wu, Microsoft's Windows CE embedded system currently accounted for 30% of the world's handheld device market, with the percentage points climbing to 50% in the PDA segment. Overall, about 10 million handheld devices (excluding GPS devices) used globally are powered by Windows Mobile 5.0, Wu added.
In addition, revenues of Microsoft's embedded system business unit in Asia are expected to exceed US$100 million in fiscal 2006, which ends June 30 this year, Wu noted.
As happened with CE 5.0, Windows Mobile 6.0, codenamed Photon, will follow in late 2007, although you won’t be able to buy any devices on the market using this until 3-6 months after the launch.
Expect Windows Mobile 5 SE, codenamed Crossbow, to be released before this, possibly Q4 this year, to bridge the gap.
