(COM) An open software architecture from DEC and Microsoft, allowing interoperation between ObjectBroker and OLE. Microsoft evolved COM into DCOM. On page XV of Box' s book in the foreword by Charlie Kindel he says, "It is Mark Ryland' s fault that some people call COM the ' Common Object Model.' He deeply regrets it and apologizes profusely." ["Essential COM", Don Box]. [Details? URL?] (1999-06-12)