The Data Mining Group (DMG) announced the first version of an XML-based open standard for defining predictive models. The Predictive Modeling Markup Language (PMML) provides a quick and easy way for companies to define predictive models and share models between compliant vendors’ applications. The founding consortium companies include: Magnify, Chicago; SPSS Inc., Chicago; Angoss Software Corp., Toronto; NCR Corp., Dayton, Ohio; and the National Center for Data Mining (NCDM) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). DMG founders invite other vendors and interested parties to participate in the proposed W3C standards initiative. First developed by NCDM and then revised and enhanced by the DMG, PMML is an XML-based language providing applications a vendor-independent method of defining models so that proprietary issues and incompatibilities are no longer a barrier to the exchange of models between applications. Predictive models express the patterns of information discovered in data mining, which companies then may use to develop specific strategies from which they can realize increased profitability. The Data Mining Group has applied for W3C working group classification. More information about PMML Version 1.0 and becoming PMML compliant is available from the Data Mining Group at www.dmg.org