Roadmaps to Windows8 Embedded Products

Windows8 embedded products will make an impact in many business forms. An embedded product is one where an technology is placed in there and will dominate the function of the product. Embedded systems have been used in limited capacities for more than 40 years, but within the past 15 to 20 years they have seen increasingly widespread adoption.

Microsoft entered the embedded market in 1996 with the release of Windows CE 1.0.

Since Microsoft has provided a steady stream of embedded platforms and technologies that are used daily in a broad range of consumer and business scenarios.

For example, Microsoft developed an advanced machine-to-machine (M2M) connection manager to streamline the way devices connect to network services in order to make the data streams more predictable and efficient. Besides that operation, Microsoft has spent time, money, and energy in security and identity management technology. This to ensure the data streams are capable of working seamlessly with on-premise, private and public cloud services. This will help make it easier for IT staff to maintain the security of a network and its data.

Intelligent Systems

What makes embedded technology valuable? It is in the data it can collect and distribute throughout a company’s workforce and even its customer base. Once collected, devices can send information to datacenters (based onsite or in the cloud), from which employees can then analyze the data to glean business intelligence. This has the potential to support daily business operations and long-term strategy.

Back in 2010, Microsoft saw that the embedded market was evolving around intelligent systems so it aligned the Windows Embedded program within the Management and Security Division of the Microsoft Server and Tools Business.

Device Management Technology

With device management technology businesses can manage content, security protocols, and general software updates on digital signage, or other types of Windows Embedded-based devices, throughout all store locations.

With Windows 8, Microsoft hopes to extend enterprise software and cloud services out to everyday devices such as point of service (POS) terminals, in-car infotainment, medical equipment and even bar-top game machines.

How valuable is the Embedded Market?

So that being the game plan, where does the embedded market stand at this time? It is impressive. Shipments of embedded devices already exceed cell phones and PCs, and the analyst firm, IDC, reports that “At over 1.8 billion units and more than $1 trillion in revenue today, the intelligent systems market will double in units and revenue by 2015”

Microsoft Embedded Website

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