Text 8177, 53 rader
Skriven 2005-11-12 08:44:24 av Mike '/m' (1:379/45)
Ärende: OpenDocument format gathers steam
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From: Mike '/m' <mike@barkto.com>


http://news.com.com/OpenDocument+format+gathers+steam/2100-7344_3-5942913.html

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Big guns in the software industry are massing behind OpenDocument as government
customers show more interest in alternatives to Microsoft's desktop software.

IBM and Sun Microsystems convened a meeting in Armonk, N.Y., on Friday to
discuss how to boost adoption of the standardized document format for office
applications. The ODF Summit brought together representatives from a handful of
industry groups and from at least 13 technology companies, including Oracle,
Google and Novell.

That stepped-up commitment from major companies comes amid signs that states
are showing interest in OpenDocument. Massachusetts in September decided to
standardize on OpenDocument for some state agencies.

James Gallt, the associate director for the National Association of State Chief
Information Officers, said Wednesday that there are a number of other state
agencies are exploring the use of the document format standard.

It's more grassroots, starting small and working its way through individual
states and agencies," Gallt said, but did not specify which governments were
looking into it.

Those state customers are seeking alternatives to Microsoft Office, while the
technology providers are looking to loosen Microsoft's grip on the desktop
marketplace, said Stephen O'Grady, an analyst at RedMonk. Those factors are
what are fueling the growing momentum for OpenDocument, he said.

"There's a confluence of events," said O'Grady, who attended the ODF Summit.
"You have customers like Massachusetts asking for choice and the ability to
play vendors off each other, and at the same time, you have vendors looking at
an opportunity to compete on a Microsoft control point."

The OpenDocument standard, which uses XML data-tagging to format and store
documents, was only ratified in May of this year. The format, known in full as
the OASIS Open Document Format for Office Applications, covers applications
such as word processors, spreadsheets and charts. As a standard, OpenDocument
is an "open" format that can be used in any software, whether closed source or
open source.

Although few products incorporate support for OpenDocument right now, O'Grady
expects that more manufacturers will adopt it. That could have a significant
impact on Microsoft's multibillion-dollar Office franchise, he noted....
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  /m

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