.NET Compact Framework SDK download

Unlike the desktop version of the .NET runtime for .NET CF, there are no downloads that I know of.

Instead, you need to install the Visual Studio-based SDK for each device type that you want to support. These SDKs install emulators and other platform-specific support files on which .NET CF runs (for example, the XBOX, Zune, and Windows Mobile OS variants have subtle differences, although they all use the "same" .NET CF).

For example, here is the MS download page for SDKs for Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional and Standard . When installing Visual Studio, also make sure you select the optional Smart Devices support feature.

If you build something against the WM 6.0 SDK, you should find that for the most part your .NET CF application will work on any Windows Mobile device (e.g. Pocket PC 2003, WM 5.0, WM6.0, 6.1, 6.5 .. .). This, of course, assumes that you are not including a device or a specific OS version.

If you are installing multiple SDKs, it is easy enough in the Visual Studio IDE (Change Platform option) to switch between different OS versions / platforms of your project for testing on different emulators, etc.