Today at the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) Boston, Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of Service Pack 1 (SP1) for the Microsoft .NET Micro Framework 2.0.

Microsoft also announced that several partners completed ports of the .NET Micro Framework to additional development platforms and released new products built on the .NET Micro Framework.

The new features of Service Pack 1 provide functionality and tools that streamline the manufacturing process and ease the burdens often associated with the deployment of updates to devices in the field. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original device manufacturers (ODMs) can use the new tools to create their own customized deployment software for their manufacturing environments.

With SP1, developers and device-makers gain the ability to help prevent unsigned firmware or application code from being installed on a device. SP1 also provides a new tool for generating bitmap fonts for applications, giving application developers increased flexibility in interface design and providing increased localization support.

At ESC Boston, Atmel Corp., NXP Semiconductors, Adeneo, SJJ Embedded Micro Solutions LLC and EmbeddedFusion have all announced enhanced or added support for the .NET Micro Framework.

Microsoft offers three platforms to serve the varied needs of the embedded category: Windows XP Embedded, Windows Embedded CE and the .NET Micro Framework. Microsoft also offers a retail-optimized operating system platform designed for retail point-of-service systems called Windows Embedded for Point of Service, based on the technologies available in Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 2. Microsoft embedded platforms can be found everywhere from computer devices such as cash registers, automated teller machines (ATMs), industrial controllers, gateways, Internet protocol (IP) telephones, server appliances, Windows-based thin clients, advanced consumer electronics, specialized handheld devices and more.

Those interested in learning more about .NET Micro Framework can visit http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/embedded/bb267253.aspx. More information about Windows Embedded is available at http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/embedded/default.mspx.