In the last two years, Windows CE has expanded beyond a standalone operating system to become an important "enabling technology."
CE is the general-purpose foundation upon which other Microsoft groups build platforms aimed at specific device markets.
Within Microsoft, the Pocket PC, Handheld PC, SmartPhone (formerly "Stinger"), Automotive PC,
TV Set-Top Box and MSN Web Companion groups are all "customers" of the Windows CE platform group.
Microsoft calls these "go-to-market solutions" groups. Each customer group adds value unique to their product and markets the resulting software.
For example, Pocket PC 2002 is built on top of Windows CE 3.0.
Pocket PC 2002 defines a target hardware platform (quarter-VGA display, ARM processor, etc.) and then adds a shell (APIs) and PIM applications that are optimized for that platform.
Pocket PC 2002 also includes enhancements to Windows CE 3.0, such as multiple ROM execute-in-place (XIP) regions that make upgrades easier.
In most cases, OS enhancements added by the "go-to-market solutions" groups are migrated back into the Windows CE platform, so that all the groups eventually benefit.