Original URL: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/11/22/microsoft_opens_formats/
Microsoft opens file formats
Fighting open source on new front
Posted in Software & Security, 22nd November 2005 11:40 GMT
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Faced with increasing pressure from public bodies worried that storing documents in proprietary formats could lead to future problems Microsoft is submmitting its file formats to a European standards body.
Massachusetts recently cited concerns about its future ability to access documents as a reason to move away from Microsoft products. It is asking all agencies to move to applications supporting OpenDocument standards by 1 January 2007. Earlier this year Massacheutts got a special licensing deal out of Microsoft covering Word and Excel documents - more info here. [1]
Microsoft will submit its Office XML format technology to standards body Ecma International. It will also "make available tools" to ensure old documents are accessible.
Microsoft is "fast-tracking" the application, according to the International Herald Tribune, which may result in the standard being accepted by the ISO next year - before Microsoft's next big Office launch.
The move is supported by several Microsoft pals including Apple, Intel, NextPage and the British Library.