Tomorrow's embedded systems will be access points for a growing array of network services, according to executives at Microsoft Corp., which rolled out software last week to help enable the shift.
The Windows giant is also launching an initiative to reach out more broadly to hardware de-velopers as it competes with Linux to command a rising share of the embedded software market.
Analysts say Windows is running in a growing share of embedded systems, and those devices are increasingly linked to networks. But they add that it's too early to say exactly how big Web services will become in this highly fragmented sector or how the competition between Windows and Linux will play out.
In Microsoft's vision, embedded devices will troll networks automatically, seeking relevant services. They will also report their capabilities to networks to spawn a market for new services.
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