Microsoft's Open XML International Standard by August 2007

And so the ODF - OOXML battle rages on. Microsoft has stepped up the pace in its pursuit of the OpenDoc Format, with a positive decision on its behalf from the International Standards Organization (ISO). OOXML could be ratified as an international standard in the second half of this year. By the end of August 2007, the 157 countries of the ISO could approve OOXML as an international standard.

The true face off however is not in the ISO arena, as ODF already is an international standard. The fact of the matter is that the two standards are mere representations of the productivity suites they are based on. In this context, Microsoft has been loosing ground on the Office front with Open Office eroding its domination on the productivity software market. OOXML is a core aspect of the 2007 Microsoft Office System.

"Governments are the most concerned with the issue of ISO-standardized document formats. Not only do some governments have requirements to accept communications if they are presented in ISO-approved formats, but there are other factors as to why XML-based formats matter (such as long-term archival) as well. The concepts of interoperability, greater choice of solutions, and the ability to translate between formats are all important to governments. In general, we are not hearing about this issue from our enterprise or consumer customers - it is localized to governments today," revealed Tom Robertson, General Manager of Interoperability and Standards for Microsoft to Mary Jo Foley.

The international standardization of OOXML is not without opposition. The 6,000-page proposal for Microsoft OOXML was submitted to ISO by another standards body, Ecma International.