Microsoft to open up some key software blueprints

SAN FRANCISCO – Microsoft Corp said today that it would make key technology elements of some of its best-selling software products widely available to boost interoperability of its software with that of competitors and customers.

To make connecting Microsoft products with third-party software products easier, Microsoft will publish on its Web site key software blueprints, known as application program interfaces, pertaining to its high-volume products used by other Microsoft products.

Microsoft also pledged not to sue open-source developers for development or noncommercial distribution of those software blueprints.

In January, the European Commission launched new antitrust investigations into Microsoft to see whether the company broke competition rules to help its Web browser and its Office and Outlook products.

Microsoft said the moves announced today apply to its following products: Microsoft Vista, Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Office 2007, Exchange Server 2007, and Office SharePoint Server 2007, as well as all future versions of the same products.