Category: Know How

Windows IoT Licensing

The Windows IoT Enterprise license is based on the hardware and the intended use of the device. Microsoft divides the systems into different price categories, which are referred to internally as SKUs (Stock Keeping Units).

OEM licensing & activation – ideal for dedicated devices

Windows IoT Enterprise is consistently designed for use in dedicated devices. This is why licensing is usually carried out via authorized OEM partners. For you, this means that you receive a pre-installed and optimally tuned system that is ready for immediate use.

The license is firmly linked to the hardware. This not only ensures clarity of use, but also greater security and stability during operation. This close integration of hardware and software is a decisive advantage, especially for industrial applications or long-lasting devices.

Activation is also designed for maximum simplicity. Using the OEM Activation 3.0 (OA3) established by Microsoft, the license key is stored directly in the BIOS or UEFI of the device. The operating system is then activated automatically – without any manual effort.

For our customers, this means:
Less administration work, less susceptibility to errors and smooth operation throughout the entire life cycle.

License classes

• Entry – cost-effective, energy-efficient appliances
• Value – mid-range systems for more demanding applications
• High end – powerful systems for computing-intensive tasks

Entry

For devices with CPUs such as:

• Intel Pentium N series
• Intel Atom
• Intel Celeron (N and J series)
• AMD G-Series

These devices are often used for simple IoT or edge applications, such as digital signage or kiosk systems.

Value

For systems with:

• Intel Core i3/i5
• AMD V13-V19
• AMD Ryzen 3 / Ryzen 5

Areas of application: industrial control, POS terminals, production automation.

High End

For powerful devices with:

• Intel Core i7 / i9 / Xeon
• AMD Ryzen 7 / Ryzen 9 / EPYC

Examples: Image processing, AI-based industrial analyses, computing-intensive edge devices.

LTSC for long-term projects

Regardless of the license class, manufacturers usually rely on Windows IoT LTSC, why? Quite simply because of the long-term security updates, a stable platform for years to come and the predictable lifecycle for industrial devices.
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 are therefore ideal for devices that will remain in use for a long time.

If you are not sure whether Windows IoT Enterprise is right for you and your application, we can provide you with a free trial of the desired PC with a Windows IoT test version at any time. If you have any questions about the compatibility of different Windows versions with our systems, please do not hesitate to contact us!

In this context, lockdown is not a journey back in time to 2020, but rather a Windows IoT operating system that can be adapted to your own needs with the help of targeted restrictions. In the following, we will explain the lockdown features that are used to customize the operating system. We explain the features that ensure greater security here.

What exactly does lockdown mean?

Lockdown describes the targeted restriction of the operating system. This is particularly important for single-function devices, i.e. devices that are only intended to perform a specific task, such as kiosk terminals, POS systems or digital signage players.

The lockdown mechanisms can be used to hide user interfaces, configure automatic processes and deactivate unwanted functions. This keeps the system stable and secure while the desired application runs in the foreground.

The most important lockdown features

Unbranded Boot

With Unbranded Boot, all Windows elements can be hidden at system startup, e.g:

• Boot logo and status displays
• Error messages (blue screen is optionally replaced by black screen)

Errors are logged in the background so that maintenance can be carried out easily. This feature ensures that users only see the desired application and at the same time protects the system from unwanted interventions.

Embedded Log-on

Embedded Log-on allows you to customize the login screen:

• Automatic login of certain user accounts
• Hide unnecessary Windows elements
• Direct start of the main application after the boat

Devices can thus be configured so that they are immediately ready for operation without users seeing administrative functions.

Shell Launcher

The Shell Launcher allows a defined application to be started automatically instead of the Windows desktop. For example, a user account runs on a specific application shell or an administrator account keeps the classic desktop interface.
You can also define how the system reacts to crashes, whether with a restart, shutdown or no action.

Assigned Access

Assigned Access extends the principle of the Shell Launcher and is particularly relevant for individual applications:

• A user account may only use one selected app
• Keyboard shortcuts, mouse gestures or the power button can be blocked
• Breakout key enables controlled access to the system

This means that devices such as kiosk systems or POS terminals can be configured in a particularly secure and user-friendly way.

Customized OEM information

Another customizing feature is the adaptation of OEM information such as manufacturer name and model designation, the company logo or support information (phone number, website, service times). This allows devices to be fully adapted to the corporate branding, which is a major advantage in a professional environment.

Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC as the basis

The LTSC versions (Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024) form the stable basis for these customizations. They offer long-term security updates, guarantee stability over many years and enable extensive customizing options without the risk of malfunctions.

If you are not sure whether Windows IoT Enterprise is right for you and your application, we can provide you with a free trial of the desired PC with a Windows IoT test version at any time.

But let’s start at the beginning and address the question of why this operating system is now called Windows 10 IoT. First, a brief digression on the term “IoT”:

What does the term “IoT” mean?

IoT is short for “Internet of Things “. The term describes the idea that PCs will gradually disappear and be supplemented and replaced by smart objects (“things”). For the private sector, this means that everyday objects are being equipped with processors, sensors and transmitters. For example, refrigerators that reorder food themselves or an intelligent brushthat analyzes hair structure. But the topic of IoT is also, or rather especially, interesting for many sectors in the industrial sector. This is because embedded microdevices can be used to network production systems and shipping processes, among other things, and therefore work much more efficiently.

What does this mean for Windows 10 IoT?

Why has Microsoft now chosen the name Windows 10 IoT for its new embedded operating system? Well, for one thing, the term IoT is slowly becoming the talk of the town, so the term is not a bad idea for marketing reasons alone. On the other hand, Windows 10 IoT is part of the One Windows strategy. This means that there is one Windows for all devices – from small devices to servers. This is because Windows 10 IoT comes in three versions, which are differentiated according to device type: Windows 10 IoT Core for small devices such as Raspberry Pi, Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise for smartphones and small tablets and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise for systems with a desktop shell and Win32 apps.

All three variants are based on the same core, to which different features are added for each device family. Thanks to the common core, the so-called universal apps can run on all platforms and device types, which significantly reduces and simplifies the effort required for development and support.

Of the three Windows IoT variants, we are only really interested in Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, as this is the version that runs on (mini) PCs and enables desktop apps and Win32 applications. Possible applications include areas such as POS, kiosk, digital signage, industrial control, production systems and ATMs.

Overview page Windows 10 IoT Enterprise

RUGGED Tab 10 N100 Entry – robust tablet for demanding applications

As the successor to the RUGGED Tab 10 N5100 Entry, we launched the RUGGED Tab 10 N100 Entry in January. This outdoor tablet is our new, robust Windows tablet, which has been specially developed for demanding applications in industry, logistics, service, construction sites and field service.

It is characterized by a robust housing with IP 65 protection and MIL-STD-810H certification, which reliably masters dust, water, drops and shocks, making it ideal for harsh working environments. The bright 10.1-inch WUXGA display with glove touch remains easy to read even in direct sunlight and can even be operated with gloves.

Inside, an energy-efficient Intel® N100 processor combined with the Windows 11 operating system ensures balanced and impressive performance. The versatile connections, such as USB, HDMI, SIM slot, WLAN or 4G, enable flexible integration into your existing IT. The RUGGED Tab 10 N100 Entry also impresses with numerous accessories such as a 2D barcode scanner, docking station or vehicle cradle and significantly expands the application options.

spo-comm goes broadband – ROMOLD infrastructure days

As part of this year’s ROMOLD Infrastructure Days on January 28 and 29, we had the opportunity to be part of a two-day event on modern broadband expansion. In support of the companies gabocom and Fritsch Fernmeldebau, we accompanied both a presentation and a practical demonstration of blowing a fiber optic cable into a speedpipe microtube.

During the live demonstration, our RUGGED Tab 10 N100 Pro was used to run the corresponding software to document the blowing process. This makes it possible to record in detail where and how a fiber optic cable was blown in. This type of digital documentation forms an important basis for the subsequent traceability of the work, supports quality assurance and enables significantly faster analysis and rectification in the event of a fault, as the exact route of the cable can be viewed at any time.

We would particularly like to emphasize the great openness with which we were received on site. This is by no means a matter of course for a new sector in broadband expansion. All the more reason for us to appreciate the trust placed in us and the open, honest exchange – especially when it comes to discussing and developing new digital solutions in a practical way.

In addition to the technical program items, the event also offered plenty of room for personal exchange outside of the presentations. In discussions between the individual presentations and after the evening program, we had the opportunity to make numerous new contacts and gain valuable insights into the daily challenges of broadband expansion. At the same time, we had the opportunity to show where our spo-comm devices can provide useful support for day-to-day work in the field.

Our thanks go to ROMOLD for organizing this very successful event and to gabocom for the idea of involving us. The two days proved to us once again that personal exchange – as we always emphasize – is simply irreplaceable.

Price fluctuations in the spo-comm product portfolio

The ongoing CPU and memory problems continue to present us with challenges. We are working to minimize the impact on our customers. Nevertheless, temporary price fluctuations for individual products cannot be completely avoided at present.

We have already explained on our blog how we are dealing with the situation and what the triggers for the current crisis are:

If you have any questions about the products concerned, the prices or other topics, please do not hesitate to contact us!