Microsoft Corp. and Dassault Syst�mes (DS) (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced that, as part of their strategic alliance and commitment to jointly delivering value to their customers, they will collaborate to support Microsoft�s Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) format in Dassault Syst�mes� 3D Extensible Markup Language (XML) format. XAML is the format for �Avalon,� the code name of the next presentation subsystem for the Microsoft� Windows� operating system.

�Avalon� provides the foundation for building applications and high-fidelity experiences, blending together user interfaces, documents and media content while exploiting the full power of users� computers. �Avalon� provides native support for declarative, markup-based programming with XAML, making it simpler to build, customize and enrich Windows-based applications.

3D XML is a universal, lightweight XML-based format that enables users to capture and share live, accurate 3D data quickly and easily. Dassault Syst�mes will use the 3D XML format in its entire line of products: CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SMARTEAM, SolidWorks and Spatial.