.NET Framework 4.0 is not cooking alone over in Redmond, as Microsoft also has the .NET Micro Framework 3.0 SDK in the oven. As of October 6, 2008, the Redmond giant is serving the Release Candidate 0 Build of the Software Development Kit for .NET Micro Framework 3.0 via Microsoft Connect. According to the information accompanying the download, NET Micro Framework SDK v3 RC0 is designed to integrate with Visual Studio 2008 SP1 or Visual C# Express Edition 2008 SP1.

“NET Micro Framework team posts Release Candidate 0 of the SDK on connect site. The .NET Micro Framework team has published Release Candidate 0 for the .NET Micro Framework SDK. We're getting down to the wire so please download it, try it out and post bugs/issues to the connect site,” revealed Steve Maillet, Program Manager .NET Micro Framework.

At the start of this year, Microsoft presented .NET Micro Framework 2.5, a release which introduced the Web Services on Devices implementation and a new native Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack. Starting with version 2.5, the Redmond giant made it easier for developers to built devices which can communicate with Windows-based machines, including Windows Vista, and with network connectivity.

The evolution of the .NET Micro runtime environment to version 3.0 will bring new capabilities including support for touch screen, inking and USB devices, along with a file system and native code interoperability. The SDK will permit developers to put together applications for hardware products powered by the .NET Micro Framework.

“Targeted towards extremely resource constrained devices, the .NET Micro Framework enables faster development of powerful embedded systems that are smart, securely connected, and easier to manage. The framework is a managed code development and execution environment, which brings C#, .NET, and a Visual Studio-based development to the embedded development world. By supporting modern development tools and paradisms, .NET Micro Framework allows device makers to improve productivity by bringing innovative products to market faster and at lower cost,” Microsoft revealed via the description of the .NET Micro Framework.