Microsoft to Let Partners Own CE Changes
Mon Jun 28,12:37 AM ET Add Business - Reuters to My Yahoo!
By Michael Kramer
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp will for the first time permit any party that licenses its latest Windows CE operating system for electronic devices to own innovations they make to the software, the firm said on Monday.
The move is aimed at satisfying diverse customers using the Windows CE software in everything from automatic teller machines to mobile phones, and comes amid a growing challenge from the Linux (news - web sites) operating system. Linux can be shared, copied and modified freely, enabling it to run on almost any computer hardware.
While Microsoft now only allows premium partners, governments and academics access to its closely guarded source code -- the blueprints of an operating system -- the new Windows CE 5.0 to be released on July 9 throws the doors open to all comers.
"This is really the first time we offer this to everybody," said Ya-qin Zhang, vice president of Microsoft's Mobile and Embedded Devices Division, who estimated that some 60 to 70 percent of the total source code would be made available.
"Basically all the partners, licensees are able to innovate and differentiate. They are able to keep all the derivative work without license to anybody else, to us or to competitors," Zhang told Reuters in an interview.
Microsoft was forced to allow rivals access to key parts of Windows, known as protocols, as part of its settlement of a U.S. anti-trust suit.
It is facing similar sanctions from the European Commission (news - web sites), although the Commission suspended part of its order against Microsoft on Sunday as part of an appeal process.
CHEAP LICENSE
Because Microsoft charges fees for its proprietary software, it closely guards access to its intellectual property, which has fueled the firm's revenues of more than $100 million per day.
Developers can license one copy of Windows CE 5.0 for just US$3 to begin working on any changes they wish to make to the code, and manufacturers only start paying a fee when they begin shipping commercial products.
The Linux operating system requires no licensing fees, but any innovations to the code must also be made available for others to view and modify for free.
The U.S.-based Zhang, who was in Taiwan to attend an electronic engineering conference, declined to say if the model was being considered for Microsoft's crown jewel -- the Windows operating system for personal computers.
However, while PCs are highly standardized products, Windows CE and its derivatives can be found in broad variety of products.
"One thing we felt and we heard from our partners is really that they want to differentiate," Zhang said.
"They want to really build all kinds of devices on top of the platform. That was really the main driver of the decision."
Zhang said about two dozen companies were already developing products using Windows CE 5.0, including a portable video media player and telephones carrying voice via the Internet (news - web sites) from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and LG Electronics Ltd.
New features include improvements in networking with other devices as well as support for 3D graphics in computer games.
