MS intros open source subsidiary

Microsoft is spinning out a wholly owned subsidiary to bridge the gap between proprietary Microsoft technologies and open source and standards communities, PC Advisor reports.

Microsoft Open Technologies will be headed by Jean Paoli, who is currently the GM of the team, CNET writes.

It will comprise about 50 to 75 full-time and part-time employees and contractors. A board consisting of Microsoft managers from other business units will oversee the new entity.

Paoli says that individual teams at Microsoft will continue to work with open source vendors and developers.

According to Microsoft, the new subsidiary represents a long-term commitment the company strives to make with open source, eWeek notes.

Paoli says. “This structure will make it easier and faster to iterate and release open source software, participate in existing open source efforts, and accept contributions from the community.”