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, featuring new enhancements to build more secure, attractive, innovative and globalized applications. Demonstrating further momentum, 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 precision-engineered 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 unique 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.