A new OS for enterprise handheld devices is coming later this year from Microsoft as they attempt so simplify the upgrade cycle. The Windows Embedded OS, based on Windows Mobile technology 6.5, will provide backwards compatibility and a clear upgrade path to Windows Embedded Handheld which is projected to come out in 2011 and be based on Windows Embedded Compact 7 OS, according to David Kelley, product unit manager for Windows Embedded at Microsoft.

Windows Embedded Compact 7 is an OS pointed at set-top boxes and slates, and is supposed to provide improved reliability, security, and a richer user experience. With Windows Phone 7 also coming this year, Microsoft has an OS for almost everything coming out. The announcement came at the launch of Motorola's ES400 Enterprise Digital Assistant, which is a smartphone designed for enterprise use and running on the Windows Mobile 6.5 OS.