[Linux-aus] OOXML support (was: If you could ask Microsoft a question...)

[Con Zymaris]

While we're on this topic:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=eu-launches-new-probes-ag

The Commission, Europe's top competition regulator, made no new charges
against Microsoft but said it "will further investigate the case as a
matter of priority."                            
                                                                                                   
Microsoft said it would cooperate fully. "We are committed to ensuring
that Microsoft is in full compliance with European law and court
obligations," it said in a statement.               
                                                                                                   
NEW COMPETITION                                                                                 
                                                                                                   
The technology coalition, the European Committee for Interoperable
Systems (ECIS), wants rival word processors such as Open Office
to run smoothly with Office, so documents can be exchanged across
formats without losing any data.                                               
                                                                                                   
"If the Commission cracks down, it opens up both Office and the Windows
operating system monopolies to real competition," said Thomas
Vinje, a lawyer for ECIS. It would also mean companies could use
Linux computers that ran Office rivals, he added.                           
                                                                                                   
ECIS also wants Microsoft to provide data so the e-mail program Outlook
and the Exchange  Server which works with it can run smoothly with
rival products. For now, users must rely on Outlook and Exchange to
collaborate on such things as organizing meetings.                  


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