Microsoft Corp. today released a beta developer kit for the Microsoft� .NET Micro Framework, a new development platform for use with devices that are typically constrained by cost, memory, processor and/or power consumption. Announced at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston, the .NET Micro Framework broad beta extends the advantages of .NET and the Visual Studio� toolset into a class of the smallest of devices.

�The .NET Micro Framework is a natural extension of Microsoft�s embedded offerings and provides a compelling, easy-to-use solution for developers,� said Colin Miller, director of the .NET Micro Framework at Microsoft. �We have utilized this platform with several projects at Microsoft and are excited to provide this kit to developers so they can use Microsoft tools to extend their skills to a set of smaller devices.�

The managed code environment and Visual Studio integration helps increase efficiency and reliability in the embedded space as well as providing PC emulation capabilities and on-device debugging within the Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment. User interface development is supported with Windows� Presentation Foundation.