Apr.9, 2003 Associated Press REDMOND, Wash. (AP) - Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday it is expanding its program to let industry partners see the underlying programming code to its operating system software for small devices, as the company tries to keep Linux open-source software at bay. The Redmond company will allow device manufacturers, processing chip makers and others to see - and make changes to - the source code for its Windows CE operating system. That software is used to power handheld devices, set-top boxes, cable modems and various other small electronic products. It's the first time Microsoft will allow changes to its source code by outsiders who want to sell products using that modified code, said Scott Horn, Microsoft's Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group director. The reason, he said, is with so many vendors making highly customized electronic devices, it's difficult to create an operating system that can address all the different needs. Microsoft contends its shared source initiative balances sharing source code while helping protect Microsoft's intellectual property rights. The move partially addresses criticisms that people lob at Microsoft in their support of Linux open-source software. Linux source code is available for free and can be modified, improved and shared with the rest of the community. Don't expect Microsoft to allow modifications to its flagship Windows operating system for personal computers anytime soon, however, analysts said. Still, Microsoft often uses its CE division to try out shared-source ideas, said Al Gillen, research director of system software for IDC, a technology research firm.