Microsoft is moving ahead in it's vision of building web-based applications that run on handheld devices. The company is filling in more of the gaps in its portfolio of software and tools for building Web-based applications that run on handheld computers, cell phones and other mobile devices.

The company recently released another test version of its .Net Compact Framework, a runtime engine that allows .Net applications to run on small Windows devices, such as those running the Pocket PC operating system.

Microsoft also announced that it has started a closed beta program for the next version of its Visual Studio .Net development software, Everett. That beta software includes the .Net Compact Framework and a series of "smart-device extensions" that help developers write applications for mobile devices.

Microsoft will soon release the final version of SQL Server CE 2.0, a small version of its database software that can be used on Windows CE.

What does this mean? Microsoft is moving full steam ahead with it's vision of building and running applications on small devices. They are enabling developers to target the smaller devices like the Pocket PC or cell phones.