Microsoft Takes Forward 'Interoperability Principles' Initiative

Microsoft has announced several new actions that deliver upon the commitments set in its ‘Interoperability Principles’ to increase the openness of its products, drive greater interoperability, and provide increased opportunity and choice for developers, partners, customers and competitors.

Microsoft will now post Version 1.0 releases of technical documentation for Microsoft protocols built into Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007; it will also post nearly 5,000 pages of new technical documentation for the Microsoft Office binary file formats for Word, Excel and PowerPoint (.doc, .xls, .xlsb and .ppt); and make renewed efforts in the direction of fostering more open engagement with other members of the IT community.

Craig Shank, general manager of Interoperability at Microsoft said, “Microsoft’s cumulative posting of approximately 50,000 pages of technical documentation on MSDN will provide consistent, open access for all developers, which will enhance the ease and opportunities for working with Microsoft’s high-volume products. Moreover, our work with partners, competitors and customers to engage in the technical nuts-and-bolts of real-world interoperability will provide ongoing opportunities for collaboration to address the challenges of today’s diverse IT environment.”