Global strategic software alliance announced

Microsoft Corp and Dassault Systemes have announced a global strategic alliance to deliver Dassault Systemes' product lifecycle management design solutions to Microsoft users.

Microsoft Corp and Dassault Systemes have announced a multiyear, global strategic alliance to deliver Dassault Systemes' product lifecycle management (V5 PLM) and 3D design solutions to companies of all sizes taking advantage of the Microsoft software platform.

Dassault Systemes' software enables companies to simulate products virtually in 3D from conception to maintenance across the extended enterprise, reducing the time and cost to develop products and increasing innovation.

By capitalizing on the Microsoft platform, the companies intend to deliver greater customer value through solutions that are easy to use, deploy and maintain with reduced ownership and integration costs.

This alliance enables a far broader set of customers to realize the benefits of 3D collaboration and PLM.

The alliance brings together Dassault Systemes' strength in 3D software with Microsoft's platform, which includes Web services development via Microsoft.NET, real-time collaboration, and both the Windows client and Windows Server operating systems.

Dassault Systèmes' V5 PLM and 3D collaborative solutions, which currently run on both the Windows client and Windows Server platforms, will leverage the Microsoft platform across a broad range of current and future Microsoft products.

"Microsoft and Dassault Systemes share a common vision of democratizing 3D and making PLM more pervasive," said Bernard Charles, president and CEO of Dassault Systemes.

"This alliance focuses on innovation to deliver an easy-to-use 3D global collaborative environment to create, simulate, manufacture and service any physical goods." Dassault Systemes' industry-leading PLM solutions include CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, and SMARTEAM; its 3D design solutions include the SolidWorks product line.

The alliance will result in the integration of these solutions with Microsoft.NET, SQL Server, BizTalk Server, SharePoint Portal Server, Windows "Longhorn" and Windows XP 64-bit Edition.

"We are delighted to bring together the full power and reach of the Microsoft platform with Dassault Systèmes' collaborative solutions," said Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect at Microsoft.

"The winning combination of Microsoft.NET and Dassault Systemes promises to make product lifecycle management accessible and affordable to a whole new set of customers in the manufacturing value chain." Microsoft and Dassault Systemes have also agreed to explore opportunities to work together to encourage broad market adoption of XML for 3D applications across the design and graphics industry.

The two companies will work with industry associations, other PLM software vendors, and 3D graphics technology companies to advance interoperability using common XML-based technologies.

The companies will also explore opportunities to work toward delivering fully integrated products in the field of automation.

Through its DELMIA Automation product line, Dassault Systemes enables companies to digitally define, control, and monitor the automated systems that control the factory floor.

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