[OGC Press Release] Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Adds Microsoft as Principal Member

[OGC Press Release]

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information about this announcement, contact:

Sam Bacharach
Executive Director, Outreach and Community Adoption
Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc
tel: +1-703-352-3938
sbacharach at opengeospatial.org

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Industry Leaders Support Organization's Commitment to Geospatial
Interoperability

Wayland, MA and San Antonio, TX, October 23, 2007 - Today, at the
annual Geoint 2007 Symposium, the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc.
(OGC) announced that Microsoft Corporation has joined the consortium
as a Principal Member. Government agencies worldwide are realizing the
power of geospatial applications to meet their missions in ways that
are unprecedented - from public safety applications to famine and
hunger relief.

According to David Schell, Chairman and CEO of OGC,
"Microsoft's support of OGC's standards process signifies
the further maturation of world markets for products and services
which require geospatial capabilities. We believe that Microsoft's
participation in the consortium is positioned to make a major
contribution to furthering the adoption of geospatial interoperability
in key industry and government sectors. This will strengthen OGC's
role in shaping the policies and best practices needed to grow and
support development of effective spatial data infrastucture worldwide.
As dependency on geospatial information resources for dealing with
such global issues as climate change and disaster preparedness
continually increases, it is of the greatest importance that the work
of the consortium be supported by the deep infrastructure and
information resources which Microsoft represents."

Through its involvement with OGC, Microsoft is able to ensure the
geospatial interoperability of its technology, including its flagship
geospatial offerings -- the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform - and
Microsoft SQL Server 2008, which is scheduled to ship in the second
quarter of calendar year 2008. Microsoft will submit the SQL Server
2008 geometry datatype for compliance to the Open GIS® Simple
Features for SQL standard, a significant move towards ensuring that
geospatial data can be seamlessly layered upon and integrated within
SQL Server 2008. By making its products OpenGIS compatible Microsoft
will support both developers and users who wish to work with the most
extensive assortment of the world's geospatial data resources
currently available.

"From XML to geospatial standards, we believe in the benefits of
driving cross-industry standards that contribute to both stronger
interoperability and business productivity for all," said Erik
Jorgensen, general manager of Virtual Earth and Live Search Maps at
Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft has long demonstrated both its
commitment and leadership in this space and is excited to continue its
contribution to the geospatial industry through OGC."

To learn more, please visit
http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government.

About The Open Geospatial Consortium
The OGC® is an international industry consortium of more than 350
companies, government agencies, research organizations, and
universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly
available interface specifications. OpenGIS® Specifications
support interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the Web,
wireless and location-based services, and mainstream IT. The
specifications empower technology developers to make complex spatial
information and services accessible and useful with all kinds of
applications. Visit the OGC website at http://www.opengeospatial.org.

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