For current .NET developers, this means that they can now create applications that run on a range of devices from targeted devices like remote controls to PCs and Servers and on to the cloud – all with the same programming model and tools.

For current Embedded developers, this means that they can now leverage the productivity gains that have been achieved on the desktop and reduce their time to market.

The .NET Micro Framework is a fully integrated Visual Studio experience brings a reliable and productive development system to the embedded world.

There were concerns expressed when we first announced this decision that the code base would fragment into a number of incompatible and confusing offshoots. To address this, Microsoft will continue to generate a stream of releases from a core code base. The direction of this core implementation will be controlled by a Core Technology team of Microsoft and Community members. This group will be responsible for selecting the projects that will be integrated with the core code base and working with the contributors to insure the high quality (and small footprint) of the submissions.

To support this interaction, the .NET Micro Framework team has launched a new Community Development Site. Contributors can propose projects and report issues and generally interact with the Core technology team at this site. In addition, the site is a place where commercial, academic, and hobbyist members of the community can find each other and spawn discussions. The site is also intended as a place to promote extensions and projects that are outside of the core implementation. This means that partners can post information about their companies, product, services, add-ons, or whatever to the Showcase which can be searched by those interested in the extended environment that is developing around the .NET Micro Framework.

Building and supporting the community is an important part of the overall goals for the .NET Micro Framework team so I strongly encourage you to try product, try the site, and give us feedback on both – how can we make this work better for you.