Video

We’ve known now for several years that these Windows Embedded Devices Operating Systems are reaching or have reached end of life and are reaching end of service life. What does that mean for you? David Krebs, from VDC Research, discusses the end of live for Windows for mobile devices.

Video Script

The install base of Windows Embedded Devices are devices running a Windows Embedded Operating System which includes Windows Embedded CE and Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 and even Windows 8.1 Embedded Handheld. There’s still actually a fairly large install-based of these devices out there. We estimate globally there’s probably around twelve million of which in the US there’s probably around six in half to seven million devices still running these, what we’re calling “legacy operating systems”.  

We’ve known now for several years that these Operating Systems are reaching or have reached end of life and are reaching end of service life. Some of the key dates that organizations need to keep in mind, one of them is coming up soon, in June 2018, there’s the end of life of CE 6.0 and in June 2019 there is end of life of 8.1 Embedded Handheld. Then in January of 2020 we’re going to see an end of life of Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5.  

So, one of the things we have seen certainly in the transition from these legacy Windows platforms to the next generation is sort of the advent of the modern user experience on mobile devices. That really came about ten years ago with the introduction of the iPhone or the initial iPhone in that we had a much more intuitive user interface, a multi-touch user interface that just made it much easier for a user to interact with a mobile device that had a relatively small display. So, when we’re looking at comparing legacy with modern platforms the biggest benefits of both of these platforms is just the experience that everyday users have with them given their experiences with their personal devices.