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Rediff.com  » Business » Microsoft predicted to win over open standards

Microsoft predicted to win over open standards

By Leslie D' Monte in Mumbai
April 01, 2008 11:05 IST
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The International Organisation for Standardisation is yet to declare the final result which is awaited with bated breath both by Microsoft and its competitors.

However, international websites and blogs are already predicting that Microsoft's Office Open XML file format has won enough votes to be accepted as an international standard.

The OpenMalaysia blog -run by advocates and students who support 'open' standards -- indicates that some countries have changed their earlier 'No' votes to 'Yes' for OOXML, helping the software major to get the necessary combination of more than two-thirds 'approve' votes and less than a quarter for 'disapproval'.

Lawyer and standards expert, Andrew Updegrove, an advocate of the rival standard Open Document Format, too corroborates this view. And so does a third site -- Command Line Warriors.

"Unless thus-far unannounced votes that were formerly 'Approve' or 'Abstain' switch to 'Disapprove', it appears that OOXML will be approved," reads a posting by Updegrove on his Standards Blog. If Microsoft gets the required majority, as suggested by the blogs and sites, its OOXML file format will get the status of an international standard.

One should, however, wait till the ISO declares the final result (expected in a day or two) since there remain some "unannounced" votes that could change the tide, caution observers.

Late last month, national delegations from 33 countries participated in the ballot resolution meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss proposed changes to OOXML.

Following this meeting, all 87 national member bodies, who voted in the original fast-track ballot, had time till March 29 to examine the actions taken in response to the comments (for instance, India had said 'No' with comments) and reconsider their vote if they wished, after which ISO would issue the final verdict.

Some sites and blogs, meanwhile, allege that there have been a host of irregularities surrounding the entire voting process, given the fact that there was never, perhaps, a more intense debate over standards.

OOXML
is backed by Apple, Novell, and closer home by Wipro, Infosys, TCS, and Nasscom. 

The rival format -- the Open Document Format (ODF) - is supported by the likes of IBM, Sun Microsystems, Red Hat, Google, and in India, by the Department of Information Technology (DIT), National Informatics Centre (NIC), CDAC, IIT-Mumbai and IIM-Ahmedabad.

Till a couple of weeks back, though, ODF proponents were confident that Microsoft would not win the battle. "It appears that Microsoft will win this time around," conceded an ODF proponent here. He added, however, "We shall continue fighting for 'open' standards."

ODF proponents oppose OOXML on grounds that 'multiple standards' are not good while Microsoft argues that OOXML - a recognised standard by ECMA International already -- is a response to evolving technology formats.

A January 2008 independent study by research and consulting firm Burton Group too indicates that although moving to OOXML file formats involves some administrative challenges, the opportunities for improved content management and productivity outweigh the short-term inconvenience of migrating from binary file formats.

India, incidentally, has maintained its September stance of 'No' to OOXML. Not getting the ISO approval means a loss of government business for Microsoft since governments worldwide, including India, prefer standards that are ratified from bodies such as the ISO.

States such as Delhi, Kerala and others from the North-East are heavy adopters of ODF file formats which are open and free (excluding maintenance and support).

Voting Game

  • Microsoft gains 'No' to 'Yes' -- Czech Republic, Denmark, Korea, United Kingdom, Ireland; Abstain to Yes -- Finland
  • Microsoft losses 'Yes' to 'No' -- Venezuela; 'Yes' to 'Abstain' -- Kenya
  • Reported with no change 12 -- Chile, France, Germany, India, Poland, South Africa, USA, Canada, New Zealand
  • Net Change 8 -- Five more 'Yes' votes needed, subject to what happens with abstains

    Source: Consortiuminfo.org
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    Leslie D' Monte in Mumbai
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