SAN FRANCISCO - Feb. 10, 1998 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of two development tools for the Microsoft® Windows® CE operating system version 2.0: the Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic® 5.0 and the Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual C++® 5.0. Developers interested in creating applications for the Windows CE platform can order both toolkits from the Microsoft booth at the Software Development '98 conference in San Francisco, running through Feb. 13.

"Developers are telling us how excited they are to start working with the Windows CE platform, and we've produced these toolkits to specifically address their needs," said Harel Kodesh, general manager of the consumer appliance group at Microsoft. "With the toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0, we provide developers with new versions of the most commonly used ActiveX® Controls, and with the toolkit for Visual C++ 5.0, developers can produce the smallest, fastest 32-bit applications using the most current C++ compiler technology."

Visual Basic and Visual C++ Toolkits Make It Easy to Develop for PC Companions
The Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0 allows developers using the Visual Basic development system to apply their existing development knowledge to build applications and solutions for the Handheld PC (H/PC). The toolkit, an add-in to the Visual Basic integrated development environment (IDE), makes it easy for developers using Visual Basic to build applications for the H/PC. The toolkit includes ActiveX Controls tailored for the H/PC, yet developers will find these controls familiar and easy to use. Developers can access Windows CE-specific functionality from inside the Visual Basic IDE to help them easily build, debug and deploy custom solutions for the H/PC.

Developers using the Visual C++ development system can apply their knowledge of the Win32® API, Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), Active Template Library (ATL) and the Visual C++ development environment to create Windows CE-based applications. Developers using the Windows CE Toolkit for Visual C++ can combine it with the Platform SDKs for PC Companion devices like the H/PC, Palm PC and Auto PC to build applications for any of these devices. Desktop emulation allows developers to build and debug applications on their Windows NT® operating system-based desktop without needing a specific PC Companion device. Remote tools and a remote application debugger allow developers to monitor and debug applications designed to run on one of the devices, all from the Windows NT-based desktop development environment.

Beta Version of Windows CE Toolkit for Visual J++ 1.1 Will Be Available Soon to Download off the Web
With the introduction of the beta version of the Windows CE Toolkit for the Visual J++™ development system for Java, Java developers can build applications for the H/PC. The toolkit includes many of the same popular features as the toolkits for Visual Basic and Visual C++, including desktop emulation and remote tools and a remote debugger, so Java developers can quickly build, debug and deploy Java applications to their H/PC. Developers can soon download the beta version of the Windows CE Toolkit for Visual J++ from the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/developer/  

Pricing and Availability
The Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0 and the Microsoft Windows CE Toolkit for Visual C++ 5.0 are both available at the Software Development '98 conference in San Francisco. The toolkits are also available through traditional retail channels at an estimated retail price of $199. For more information about Microsoft's complete line of development tools designed for Windows CE, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/developer/.

Windows CE is a Win32-based pre-emptive, multitasking, graphical, high-connectivity operating system, designed specifically for embedded applications, that enables lower development costs and shorter time to a broader market.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft, Windows, Visual Basic, Visual C++, ActiveX, Win32, Windows NT and Visual J++ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.