NUREMBERG, Germany - Yesterday, Microsoft has announced the availability of .NET Micro Framework 2.5, a specialized version of the .NET framework that runs on small devices that have limited resources.

Like its older sibling, the full .NET runtime, the Micro runtime executes code under a managed runtime. And like the other versions of .NET, the .NET Micro Framework includes support for C# and Visual Studio development and debugging, which is performed on the desktop. However, this version, not to be confused with the .NET Compact Framework, runs on very small devices with even tighter resource constraints than those supporting the .NET Compact Framework. Whereas the Compact Framework requires 12 MB of RAM, the Micro Framework only requires about 300KB of RAM. For example, while the Compact framework is for such devices as GPS handhelds and PDAs, the Micro framework is for even smaller devices such as sensor nodes, remote controls, and robotics. (But due to the small requirements, the Micro framework is not intended for real-time, whereas the Compact framework is.)

The latest release includes new features such as Web Services on Devices technology preview, and a native TCP/IP stack, including network discovery.

The .NET Micro Framework SDK is available on the .NET Micro Framework page of Microsoft’s site.