Microsoft and Dassault Systèmes Expand Alliance Into Virtual Earth
Microsoft’s Virtual Earth platform combined with Dassault Systèmes’ technology will enable a more immersive and realistic 3-D environment.
 REDMOND, Wash., and PARIS (rushprnews) June 26, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. and Dassault Systèmes (DS), a world leader in 3-D and product lifecycle management solutions, today announced the extension of their alliance, committing to add advanced new features to Microsoft’s Virtual Earth™ platform.
Combining Microsoft’s geolocalization technology with DS’s proven 3-D modeling and realistic visualization know-how, this alliance will enable consumers to add an entirely new level of realism within Virtual Earth, providing an unrestricted freedom for creativity and innovation.
“Together, our technologies will allow for a fusion of the real and virtual worlds that unleashes our imagined world and bridges it with the one we live in,†said Bernard Charlès, president and CEO, Dassault Systèmes. “Our lifelike 3-D modeling solution will provide a robust dimension to Microsoft’s powerful, immersive online mapping and visualization experience.â€
“Our alliance with Dassault Systèmes represents a significant commitment to delivering an ever-increasing level of realism within the Virtual Earth platform,†said Stephen Lawler, general manager of Virtual Earth at Microsoft.
This strategic alliance will leverage DS’s exact 3-D modeling technologies, which are based on its CATIA world-class 3-D modeling capabilities. These capabilities will seamlessly integrate with Virtual Earth, facilitating design reuse and modifications for quicker design ramp-ups and innovations.
More information about the Microsoft-Dassault Systèmes alliance can be found at http://www.3ds-microsoft.com.
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product – SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design – DELMIA for virtual production – SIMULIA for virtual testing and ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, including ENOVIA VPLM, ENOVIA MatrixOne and ENOVIA SmarTeam. Dassault Systèmes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFTâ€) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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Anne Howard www.annehowardpublicist.com writer and publicist