Following the approval of its Office Open XML as an official standard, Microsoft is launching the Codeplex Foundation, a new open source organization which it will fund.  Sam Ramji, Microsoft's senior director of Platform Strategy will be leaving Microsoft to become the organization's interim president. 

Bill Hilf, general manager of Windows Server Marketing and Platform Strategy, in a blog post cheered Mr. Ramji's efforts.  He writes, "Sam joined my team three years ago to drive open-source technical strategy. I have eagerly supported him as he passionately articulated a vision that Microsoft could coexist -- and even thrive -- in a heterogeneous IT world."

Mr. Ramji discussed the initiative in a conference call with reporters.  In the call he says that Microsoft will be looking to use the Foundation to push open-source into the "mainstream", and that it will look to increasingly incorporate the tech into its efforts. 

Mr. Hilf writes, "The perspectives on OSS [open-source software] at Microsoft have evolved to the point where Microsoft's open-source strategy is no longer just locked in a single ‘lab' on campus - now OSS is an important part of many product groups and strategies across the company. We have become increasingly clear on where we work with open source -- development methodologies, projects, partners, products and communities -- and where our products compete with commercial open-source companies or platforms. Today, there are engineering and business leaders across the company, myself included, looking at how to drive interoperability for customers and as a lever for new growth. We will not waver in our commitment to open source."

Aside from his new role at the Codeplex Foundation, Mr. Ramji is also assuming a leadership role at a cloud computing startup.  Microsoft is actively looking to fill Mr. Ramji's position with a competent replacement. 

Both open source and cloud computing are two hot trends in the industry.  The open source movement struggled in the 80s and 90s as Microsoft and Apple's closed systems dominated the market.  However, fueled by a small but passionate community, open source has resurged, with both Apple and Microsoft jumping on the bandwagon. 

Microsoft also recently launched its first cloud computing operating system, Windows Azure.