Microsoft to standardize Office formats

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Quote: "This is infact very tragic, My hopes are that ISO and ECMA choose OpenDocument before Microsoft's formats."

The ISO doesn't have to choose between the two formats. It's not uncommon to have multiple standards for related technologies.

Lets also keep in mind MS's submitting it to a standards body doesn't mean it will just be rubber stamped by the ISO. It will be reviewed, and possibly changed as part of the process.

If the standards process works correctly, the format should be open for anyone to implement without royalties.

In any event, you can't consider the MS formats a standard until they emerge from the process. Otherwise you could get burned. It's possible the process will lead to the ISO insisting on changes, which MS might not agree with, leading to MS pulling the formats. If you made a purchasing decision for Office 12 based on the assumption the formats would emerge as a standard, you might be out of luck. The only safe play if you insist on having an open standard and were considering MS Office is to wait.

Posted by: zztong   Posted on: 11/22/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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