To help original equipment manufacturers connect thin clients to existing IT systems, Microsoft Corp. announced Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Community Technology Preview (CTP) for download in works with Silverlight and .NET.

Desktop virtualization aside, HP also said its thin client PCs, built on technology the company acquired in 2007 through Neoware Inc., can be used to alleviate the network of heavy loads.

And, mobile thin clients was also on the radar as HP introduced the HP Compaq 6720T Mobile Thin Client model with minimal storage and wireless networking features.