Office 2007 file format is approved as ISO standard
Seattle PI | at | by Mike
The format that Microsoft's Office 2007 programs use to save documents was approved as an international standard Tuesday, a step the company touted as proof that it is willing to make once-proprietary technology work openly with competing programs.
But the International Standards Organization vote didn't quiet some opponents, who argued that the Office Open XML standard still locks out competitors and gives Microsoft customers no choice but to keep buying its programs forever.
The decision was made public Tuesday on the Web site of a European standards organization, Ecma International. ISO is expected to formally announce the vote Wednesday.