Robert Levy
07-30-2003, 12:15 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/productinfo/roadmap.aspx' target='_blank'>http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/productinfo/roadmap.aspx</a><br /><br /></div>Following up on Andy's post about Whidbey, <a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/productinfo/roadmap.aspx">here's a full run down</a> of Microsoft's roadmap for Visual Studio in 2004. If you are a developer of any kind, make sure you give this a read - it outlines some really exciting features that we'll be seeing next year.<br /><br />Here's what it says specifically about mobile devices:<br /><br />"With the release of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and the .NET Compact Framework, developers using Visual Basic and C# were empowered with the capability to build device-based applications using the same tools and methodologies they employ for desktop and Web-based development. In Whidbey, smart device programmability will be extended to include an updated version of the .NET Compact Framework and support for native C++ smart device development from within the IDE.<br /><br />The inclusion of native C++ smart device development in Whidbey provides developers with greater flexibility when developing applications for the Pocket PC, Smartphone, and other Microsoft Windows-powered devices. Developers targeting mobile devices will benefit from the tight integration of the native C++ development features and a consistent development experience across all Visual Studio project types, ranging from smart devices to Windows servers.<br /><br />For developers building managed applications using the .NET Compact Framework, Whidbey will enable creation of applications that run on the latest devices, including the Smartphone, Windows CE .NET 4.2-based devices, and the newest versions of the Pocket PC. <b>This release will also introduce new classes and controls for accessing telephony features, messaging (MSMQ), and Short Message Service (SMS). Finally, native code interoperability enhancements, including improved marshalling, COM Interop and runtime hosting will improve the smart device application development experience</b>."<br />Wow! This is definitely something to look forward to :D Note that these article don't say that the ability to do managed Smartphone development will be <i>introduced</i> in Whidbey - it's mentioned in the same context as Pocket PC. This gives me hope that a Smartphone 2003 SDK will be released in the coming months to allow us to start building .NET Compact Frameworks apps for Smartphone using Visual Studio.NET 2003.