The .NET Compact Framework is available as an operating system component in all Microsoft smart devices, including Pocket PC devices, Pocket PC Phone Edition, Smartphone devices, and other Windows Embedded CE powered devices.
The following table lists the devices and platforms supported by the .NET Compact Framework.
.NET Compact Framework version
Device
Platform
1.0
Pocket PC
Pocket PC 2000
Pocket PC 2002
Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC
Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC SE
Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC
Smartphone
Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone
Windows Mobile 5.0 for Smartphone
Other Windows Embedded CE devices
Windows CE 4.1
Windows CE 4.2
Windows CE 5.0
2.0
Windows Mobile 6 Professional
Windows Mobile 5.0 software for Smartphone
Windows Mobile 6 Standard
Windows Embedded CE 6.0
3.5
Windows Mobile 5.0 software for Pocket PC
For Smartphone, the .NET Compact Framework version 2.0 requires Windows Mobile version 5.0 running on the device. For information about installing the Windows Mobile SDKs for Pocket PC and Smartphone in Visual Studio, see Visual Studio and the .NET Compact Framework.
If the .NET Compact Framework 2.0 is not already present in ROM, it can be installed in RAM or in the persistent store on Pocket PC 2003, Windows CE 5.0, and Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PCs and Smartphones. The .NET Compact Framework 3.5 is not currently available in ROM, but can be installed in RAM based on supported devices shown in the preceding table.
The Windows CE Platform Builder tool enables OEMs to embed the .NET Compact Framework as an integrated operating-system component into a Windows Embedded CE powered device. The monthly and yearly updates to Windows Embedded CE Platform Builder often include .NET Compact Framework updates. Windows CE versions 4.2, 5.0, and 6.0 support embedding either the .NET Compact Framework 2.0 or 3.5 in ROM.
For Windows Mobile devices, the version of the .NET Compact Framework installed in ROM is tied to the specific platform. However, in some cases, OEMs can choose between two versions. The following table shows the version of the .NET Compact Framework that is installed in ROM, based on the version of the platform.
1.0 SP2
1.0 SP3
Windows Mobile 5.0
Windows Mobile 5.0 (build 15096.3.0)
1.0 SP3 or 2.0 (determined by OEM)
Windows Mobile 5.0 (build 15341.4.0)
1.0 SP3 or 2.0 SP1 (determined by OEM)
Windows Mobile 6
2.0 SP2