LAS VEGAS, United States—In his keynote at the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates detailed his company’s new wireless strategies, which include introducing a new tablet device for home computing, a new technology platform for home networking, and a next-generation version of the company’s wireless operating system.
While Microsoft executives have hinted at many of these new announcements in the past several months, Gates worked to paint a cohesive picture of the various technologies and strategies. One of Microsoft’s main goals is to create a seamless user experience, from the company’s desktop operating system (OS) to wireless handheld devices, Gates said.
Along these lines, perhaps Microsoft’s most important announcement was the launch of its Windows CE.NET operating system, which the company is offering as a real-time, embedded OS for handhelds, smart phones, set-top boxes, retail point-of-sale devices and displays. Microsoft said the operating system will work with its Windows XP desktop operating system, and will offer a consistent user experience across a variety of devices. The CE.NET operating system supports Bluetooth and 802.11 technologies, as well as x86, Xscale and ARM processors, and will offer users a complete Web-browsing experience, Microsoft said. Casio, Fujitsu, Motorola, Samsung, Siemens Information Appliances, Sony and Wyse Technology are among the companies that said they will ship devices built with the operating system.
In his keynote, Gates also discussed the company’s support for tablet devices, which will be detachable, wireless, LCD monitors that users can carry around the house. Microsoft’s new Windows technology Mira will support the devices, allowing users to browse the Web and access information on their personal computers.
“The willingness of consumers to embrace new technologies is dependent on their confidence in the ability of the industry, including Microsoft, to offer software, services and devices that put the consumer first in terms of security, privacy and reliability,” Gates said.
