Microsoft and Linspire Collaboration Promotes Interoperability and Customer Choice: Broad agreement will facilitate interoperability between Windows and Linux, provide intellectual property assurance.

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Today Microsoft Corp. and Linux desktop provider Linspire Inc. announced a broad interoperability, technical collaboration that also includes intellectual property assurances. The agreement promotes customer choice and strengthens the bridge between the Microsoft^® Windows^® and Linux operating systems.

Through this agreement, the companies will work to advance office document compatibility, enhance instant messaging interoperability and reinforce existing collaboration on digital media. In addition, Linspire will be providing its customers with the option of acquiring a patent covenant from Microsoft for customers operating the Linspire desktop.

Microsoft and Linspire Collaboration Promotes Interoperability and Customer Choice: Broad agreement will facilitate interoperability between Windows and Linux, provide intellectual property assurance.