Microsoft Signs On as Elite Sponsor of XML 2004; Expanded Conference Program Announced; Presentations Added from Adobe, Justsystem, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, W3C

Business Wire, Nov 10, 2004

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- IDEAlliance, a leading trade association dedicated to fostering XML and other information technology standards, today announced that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has signed on as the "Elite Sponsor" of XML Conference and Exposition 2004, being held Nov. 15-19 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. The annual event is the world's largest XML trade conference.

"Microsoft is a long-time advocate of XML and its related body of standards," says Joshua G. Edwards, Technical Product Manager, Microsoft Office Product Management. "We're proud to support XML 2004 as the industry's premier XML educational and trade event."

XML 2004 has also added several new presentations to the "product presentation" and "late-breaking news" sessions at the conference.

"Every year, this conference covers the latest, up-to-the-minute news and events surrounding XML-based technologies and solutions," says Conference Chair Lauren Wood. "These recent additions to the XML 2004 schedule ensure that conference attendees have access to the most recent information about technological developments. The conference also features product presentations where attendees can get an in-depth look at useful tools and integrated solutions."

Sessions recently added to the XML 2004 program include:

--"Adobe LiveCycle -- Using XML and SOA to Link People with Systems," Duane Nickull, Senior Standards Strategist, Adobe Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE)

--"XML in the .NET Framework: Past, Present & Future," Dare Obasanjo, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ:MSFT)

--"An Approach to Visually Creating and Editing Nested Compound Documents," Nobuaki Wake, Software Architect, and Junpei Aoki, Software Engineer, Justsystem Corporation

--"Is Now the Time for Binary XML? Report on Current W3C Activity," Michael Leventhal, Director, XML Products, Tarari, Inc.

--"Policy Content at the Social Security Administration: Using XML and Semantic Metadata," Terry M. Hynes, PolicyNet Program Manager, Social Security Administration, and Duane Degler, Design Consultant, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)/IPGems

For the full XML 2004 schedule, visit http://www.xmlconference.org/xmlusa/2004/schedule.html.> For information on exhibiting at XML 2004, visit www.xmlconference.org/xmlusa/2004/exhibits.html.> For information on sponsorship opportunities at XML 2004, visit http://www.xmlconference.org/xmlusa/2004/sponsorship.html.> For general information and to register to attend XML 2004, visit http://www.xmlconference.org/xmlusa/2004/registration.html.> About IDEAlliance

IDEAlliance (International Digital Enterprise Alliance) is a not-for-profit membership organization. Its mission is to advance user-driven, cross-industry solutions for all publishing and content-related processes by developing standards, fostering business alliances, and identifying best practices. IDEAlliance has been a leader in information technology since 1966 (founded as Graphic Communications Association) having fostered the development and adoption of standards such as ADIS, GRACoL, ICE, JIFFI, Mail.dat, papiNet, PRISM, PROSE XML, SPACE XML, SGML, and XML. Learn more about IDEAlliance at www.idealliance.org.