Hoping to extend the reach of its .NET application programming environment, Microsoft on Tuesday debuted a version that is intended for use in smaller embedded devices called ".NET Micro."

The platform could bring .NET into devices such as sensors, retail displays, and home automation systems. Programming for the platform would be available through Visual Studio, the company's signature programming suite.

"Development on this platform works seamlessly with the same tools that are used throughout the Microsoft family of platforms," .NET Micro Framework director Colin Miller said. "This decreases the distinction between embedded application development and other application development tasks and helps reduce the cost and risks of these projects."

Microsoft is also making available an SDK which will allow developers to use C# to program their applications, and emulate hardware. It will also be supported by hardware platforms based on the ARM7 and ARM9 processor cores.

Supporters of the platform hope that developers who may have passed over Windows CE Embedded because it was too expensive to implement and/or was more than they needed for their applications may give .NET Micro a chance.

Volume licensing for applications based on the framework will be about $1 or $2 per device, far less expensive than its CE counterpart.