Microsoft has failed in its initial effort to fast-track the Office Open XML (OOXML) document file format as an international standard but it will have another chance in early 2008.
Standards body Ecma International has created a committee to standardise Microsoft Office document formats, handing the software giant a victory in an intensifying struggle over desktop software.
The governor's office of Massachusetts said Microsoft's effort to standardise Office document formats could meet the commonwealth's procurement guidelines.
The certification from ECMA -- formerly known as the European Computer Manufacturers Association -- marks a year of work for a technical committee set up to standardise Office Open XML.
IBM has taken Microsoft to task over its service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach, claiming the software maker relied too much on Windows-oriented, proprietary standards.
A growing roster of de facto standards is testing the need for bureaucratic agencies and design-by-committee technologies.
You may not believe this, but Microsoft thinks we're biased...against Microsoft. But if reactions to our office suite review are anything to go by, our readers disagree.
What is it about Microsoft's proposed OOXML standard that has boffins hurling death threats at each other?
Developers wanting to use Microsoft's Office Open XML specification will need to brush up on their legal skills.
Adobe Systems' Acrobat Reader software has become one of those rare birds in personal computing: a de facto standard that has nothing to do with industry giant Microsoft.
As Australia and various other nations prepare to vote on whether Microsoft's Open Office XML becomes an ISO standard, the Redmond giant is attempting to downplay fears that OOXML adopters will be hooked into the company's technology.
If you need to make sleeker-looking documents and presentations, Microsoft Office Standard 2007 is a worthy upgrade. But stick to your current software if you don't feel that it lacks anything.
The software giant is set to unveil more details about the controversial electronic forms software, an addition to the forthcoming Office 11, including a new name.
Microsoft says it's opening its Office desktop software by adding support for XML--a move that should help companies free up access to shared information. But there's a catch: It has yet to disclose the underlying XML dialect.
New programs are to be aimed at encouraging software makers to produce applications for the next version of Office.
While Microsoft Office System is the most complete suite on the block, there's no compelling reason for everyone to upgrade.
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