Microsoft's OOXML document format has accrued enough votes for recognition as an international standard, but one observer believes the change will make little difference to users in Australia.
The South African government said on Tuesday that it is to adopt Open Document Format as its preferred standard for software interoperability.
Standards Australia has maintained its "abstain" vote on Microsoft's attempt to attain international standard status for its Office Open XML file format.
The Office Open XML (OOXML) document format exists purely because governments demanded it, according to Microsoft, which is hoping the format will become an international standard by the end of this month.
The developer of XML and a former ISO committee chair have both claimed that Microsoft was interested in having Office Open XML accredited as an international standard in order to forward the company's wider interests.
The eyes of the world were on Australia this week as the APEC summit got underway in Sydney, and what they've seen is a city being held under virtual martial law major roads blocked off, police cars outnumbering taxis and snipers openly hanging out on roof tops.
What is it about Microsoft's proposed OOXML standard that has boffins hurling death threats at each other?
The software company has made a big show about opening up its APIs, but has it really changed its stance towards open source?
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