Today at Microsoft Mobile & Embedded DevCon 2005, Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp., announced the release of a free, managed-class library for building Bluetooth� enabled applications and services for Windows� CE- and Windows Mobile (TM) -based devices. The new library reduces the native Bluetooth code from hundreds of lines to just a few, making development faster and easier, and giving developers more time to create new and innovative applications. Offered under a Microsoft� Shared Source license, the Windows Embedded Source Tools for Bluetooth Technology enables developers to customize and ship their code without any obligation to share the modifications with Microsoft, competitors or the development community, giving developers the opportunity to differentiate their Bluetooth solutions in the marketplace.

"The traditionally time-intensive process for Bluetooth development just shrank considerably," said Jane Gilson, director of the Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft. "These source tools provide a unique solution, letting developers create Bluetooth applications in minutes instead of hours, all while expanding their Bluetooth offerings in this growing market."