Microsoft pushes embedded OSes

Microsoft on Monday announced a new program designed to spur adoption of its embedded operating systems--Windows CE.Net and Windows XP Embedded. The software giant announced that those in its embedded partners program can now distribute the operating systems on up to 1,000 hardware systems free of charge, provided those systems are used for testing purposes.

The two embedded operating systems are used on a variety of non-computer devices ranging from cell phones to gas pumps and slot machines.