REDMOND, Wash. -- Computer software giant Microsoft Corp. Tuesday defended its use of undocumented features within the Windows operating system in software it makes itself.
The computer trade publication Infoworld this week published an article that noted that some of Microsoft's computer programs make use of those undocumented Applications Programming Interfaces (APIs). It contended that the practice might possibly constitute an unfair advantage by Microsoft over other software publishers who also write software for use in Windows.
The Infoworld story was based on a recently published book, 'Undocumented Windows,' which listed more than 200 APIs that are part of Windows, but that are not listed in documents provided by Microsoft to other software makers.
Infoworld reported that its tests confirmed 'that a number of Microsoft applications take advantage of calls described in the book,' which was published in June by Addison-Wesley.
Windows is a Microsoft product that adds a graphic look and feel to IBM-type personal computers, making them easier to use for novices. The Windows operating system also provides standards for use of printers, peripherals and other devices that all programs that use Windows also employ.
For example, virtually all programs that operate under Windows use the F1 key to get help. That API 'call' is listed in Microsoft's documentation that comes with Windows.
The problem arises when undocumented API 'calls' are made by Microsoft programs that control Windows features not listed in Microsoft's documentation. Infoworld indicated the practice might give Microsoft's own software an unfair advantage in the marketplace.
Microsoft said Tuesday there are undocumented APIs in every major operating system in the world and most major applications for Windows, including those being shipped by Microsoft's principal competitors, make use of those undocumented APIs in Windows.
Of the APIs used by Microsoft applications, almost all are artifacts of earlier versions of Windows. They are either obsolete under Windows 3.1 or add no meaningful functionality to the product, the statement said.
'Our policy for applications is not to use undocumented APIs,' said Mike Maples, executive vice president of products at Microsoft. 'I'm frankly surprised that we weren't able to reach that goal. However, Microsoft is not alone in its use of some undocumented APIs in its applications and we derive no competitive advantage from using them.
'There are similar uses of undocumented calls by Borland, by Lotus, by WordPerfect and by probably most other publishers of applications for Windows. No one is going to get any kind of advantage from such usage,' he said.
Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., posted earnings of $210 million, or 71 cents a share, for its fourth quarter ended June 30, up 52 percent from $138 million, or 48 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. The software giant pulled in revenues of $815 million for the quarter, a 55 percent increase over the $527 million for the year-ago period.
