Brad Smith, Steve Ballmer, Ray Ozzie
Virtual Pressroom: Microsoft Makes Strategic Changes in Technology and Business Practices to Expand Interoperability

April 20, 2008
Microsoft today announced a set of broad-reaching changes to its technology and business practices to increase the openness of its products and drive greater interoperability, opportunity and choice. These changes are codified into four new interoperability principles and corresponding actions: 1) ensuring open connections; 2) promoting data portability; 3) enhancing support for industry standards; and 4) fostering more open engagement with customers and the industry, including open source communities.

Highlights:

•Audio Recording & Transcript: Press Conference Call with Steve Ballmer, Ray Ozzie, Bob Muglia and Brad Smith
•Video Highlights from the Press Conference (1 min 50 sec)

News & Announcements

•Press Release: Microsoft Takes Additional Steps in Implementing Interoperability Principles (June 30, 2008)
•Press Release: Microsoft and Novell Extend Reach of Interoperability Collaboration to China (April 20, 2008)
•Press Release: Microsoft Publicly Posts Additional Protocol Documentation (April 8, 2008)
•Written Transcript: Press Conference Call with Steve Ballmer, Ray Ozzie, Bob Muglia and Brad Smith
•Press Release: Microsoft Makes Strategic Changes in Technology and Business Practices to Expand Interoperability (Feb. 21, 2008)
•Q&A: New Microsoft Interoperability Principles Ensure Open Connections and Promote Data Portability (Feb. 21, 2008)
•Media Alert: Microsoft Executives to Make Significant Company Announcement (Feb. 21, 2008)

Background Information

•Update on Implementation of Microsoft’s Interoperability Principles (.doc file, 463 KB)
•Microsoft Interoperability Principles
•Announcement Overview: Microsoft Interoperability Principles (.docx file, 102kb)
•Frequently Asked Questions (.doc file, 116 KB)
•Quote Sheet: Industry Support for New Microsoft Interoperability Principles
•Microsoft Interoperability News Archive

Audio/Video

•Video Highlights: Press Conference, Feb. 21, 2008 (.wmv 1 min 50 sec)
•Audio Recording: Press Conference Call, Feb. 21, 2008 (.wma file, 37 min 48 sec)
•Video Clip: Tom Robertson, General Manager, Interoperability and Standards, Microsoft, on what the announcement means to developers and customers (.wmv file, 44 sec)
•Broadcast-quality Video and Broll: The PressPass Broadcast Room (registration required)

Event Images

From left: Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel, Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer and Ray Ozzie, Chief Software Architect, announce a set of changes to Microsoft's technology and business practices to increase the openness of its products and drive greater interoperability, opportunity and choice for developers, partners, customers and competitors. Redmond, Wash., Feb. 21, 2008

High-res version

**

Press Contacts:

•

Rapid Response Team
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
(503) 443-7070

**