Last month, we announced Siemens AG had chosen the 3D JT data format for Long-Term Data Retention (LTDR) of product information throughout its entire global enterprise. While this is a milestone in that it represents Siemens AG's first announced global standardization on Siemens PLM Software technology since we were acquired, it is interesting to note that the evaluation took place long before the acquisition occurred and was driven by Siemens' long-term business strategy and the importance it places on technology openness.

Siemens AG is comprised of a wide variety of business units that produce a diverse set of products for multiple industries. This diversity creates a heterogeneous landscape of product development software applications that produces 3D product information in multiple data formats. As a result, it needed a common and flexible format that was compatible with all of its various 3D systems so that product data could be accurately retained and retrieved over time. The ability to facilitate the potential consolidation of Siemens AG's product development software applications in the future was also a significant consideration.