Microsoft to Share Technology Secrets

In an attempt to address the concerns of antitrust regulators in the European Union, Microsoft announced that it will publish information about its technology that will make it easier for other vendors to build products that interoperate with Microsoft's.Microsoft said it has posted 30,000 pages of documentation on line that describes how the company's programs work together. This material should enable non-Microsoft developers to create applications that work with Windows, Office, and the company's server platforms as well as Microsoft's own applications do.

The company acknowledged that its customers wanted all their systems to work together, regardless of operating system, and for information to be easily portable among systems. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said, "Microsoft's long-term success depends on our ability to deliver a software and services platform that is open, flexible and presents customers and developers with choice."

The move should mean that businesses will be more able to mix and match software based on how well it supports their needs, without having to worry as much about compatibility.Associated Press via SiliconValley.com and Wired News, Yahoo News