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MICROSOFT EXTENDS OPEN ACCESS TO KEY TECHNOLOGIES
MOVE RESPONDS TO CUSTOMER AND INDUSTRY NEEDS
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In this issue of the FINFlash Update...
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LEAD STORY: MICROSOFT OPENS UP CORE BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES
On February 21, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced a far-reaching set of Interoperability Principles that provides customers and other software companies with expanded access to core Microsoft technologies. “These steps represent an important step and significant change in how we share information about our products and technologies,” said Ballmer. This new era of open technology access will enable developers across the software industry to bring more choices and innovations to customers. Under the Principles, Microsoft is also supporting data portability so that information can be more easily exchanged between Microsoft and non-Microsoft products.
Read more
www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=windows&articleId=9063838
Read the Interoperability Principles
www.microsoft.com/interop/principles/default.mspx
STANDARDS UPDATE: NATIONAL STANDARDS BODIES REVIEW OPEN XML
Representatives from national standards bodies (NBs) gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 25 for a week-long meeting to review modifications made by Ecma International to its Open XML file format standard. Open XML is the default file format in the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and NBs will vote over the next month on whether or not to ratify Open XML as an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard. Governments and industries worldwide look to ISO for standards guidance, and Microsoft strongly supports approval of Open XML as an ISO standard. We’ll post news about the vote on the FIN Website after the vote is tallied at the end of March.
Read more...
www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9878056-7.html
POLICY NEWS: NET NEUTRALITY DISCUSSED IN WASHINGTON, AGAIN
Net Neutrality is a hot topic again in Washington. Currently, broadband providers can pick and choose which Internet content to speed or slow, and this control has some consumers and policy makers concerned. Last year, Congress considered but did not pass Net Neutrality legislation. This year, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) has introduced legislation that offers Net Neutrality guidelines but does not propose strict rules. In addition, on February 25, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held a hearing on the issue. “While networks may have legitimate network issues and practices that does not mean that they can arbitrarily block access to certain network services,” said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. Look to the FIN for updates on this important technology policy issue.
Read More
www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2008/tc20080225_498413.htm
TECH TIP: SKYDRIVE SERVICE LETS YOU BACK UP YOUR FILES ONLINE
Want to back up your files securely? Want to access your files from any PC with an Internet connection? Want to invite friends, family, and co-workers to share files, all in one place? Windows Live recently launched a free service called SkyDrive that offers anyone 5GB of online password-protected file storage. It lets you store photos, documents, and more, and retrieve them anywhere at anytime. Check it out at
http://skydrive.live.com.
TAKE THE NEW TECH TRIVIA CHALLENGE
Test your knowledge -- or your online searching ability -- by taking our Tech Trivia Challenge. (Try Windows Live Search at www.live.com/.)
The 2007 Microsoft Office system saves files by default in an open international file format standard called Open XML. Which other products also read Open XML files?
- Apple’s iPhone and iWork
- OpenOffice Novell Edition
- DataViz Documents to Go (Palm)
- Corel WordPerfect Office
- All of the Above
To submit your answer and view the answer to the previous question, visit
www.freetoinnovate.com/ssl/techTrivia.aspx
THE FIN PULSE
The FIN Pulse is an informal online poll that lets FIN members see how others use technology and think about policy issues.
Internet services work great -- except when they don’t work! This month, we ask, “How often do you experience trouble using or connecting to an Internet service, such as Web email, RSS news feeds, Internet video or radio, etc.?”
Go to www.freetoinnovate.com to participate in the FIN Pulse.
Do you have a great tech trivia question that will stump FIN members? Send it to us (together with a verifiable answer by emailing msfin@microsoft.com.
For Top Stories and Tech Headlines, updated weekly, visit the FIN Web site:
www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate/
And remember, it’s never too late to write your legislators to let them know what issues are important to you. To identify and email your legislators, visit: www.freetoinnovate.com
Need help writing your legislator? You can find tips for communicating with legislators, along with news, tech policy information and more, at the Freedom to Innovate Network Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/freedomtoinnovate/
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