Sun Microsystems Corp has floated a series of XML-based specifications designed to crack-open Microsoft Corp's Office monopoly and improve interoperability with StarOffice.

Sun has lined-up partners to form a technical committee at the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) that will drive the proposed formats. Joining Sun are Corel Corp, XML publishing specialist Arbortext Inc, standards specialist Drake Certivo Inc and aircraft giant Boeing Corp among others.

Sun's goal is to successfully challenge Microsoft's monopoly of desktop productivity suites using StarOffice 6.0, which will ultimately support the formats. The file formats are already used in OpenOffice 1.0, the basis of StarOffice 6.0.

Vendors like Corel, meanwhile, are hoping for a larger slice of the desktop pie with increased interoperability between their own suites and those from Microsoft and Sun. Sun said the OASIS Open Office XML Format Technical Committee's work would enable exchange of data in XML-based formats while retaining a "high-level" of formatting between text, spreadsheets, charts and graphs.

Only one vital piece of the puzzle is missing - Microsoft. Sun said it has invited Microsoft to join, but that it is "not optimistic". Simon Marks, Product Manager for Microsoft Office, said in a statement that Microsoft is still evaluating the offer.

View: The full story
News source: The Reg

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There are 8 additional comments
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(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by Tom Servo on 21 Nov 2002 - 11:16
Why do they have to form a committee for each thing they want to challenge MS for? And why is the initiator always Sun?
Quote this comment #1.1 Posted by Fotix on 21 Nov 2002 - 16:23
For leverage reasons, I think. Sort of how the European Union came to be. Sun sees $$$ and likes to be the first to initiate when they stand to gain. And who could blame'em.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by rob.derosa on 21 Nov 2002 - 12:42
MS Office 11 going to use XML, I think.
Quote this comment #2.1 Posted by MadDog on 21 Nov 2002 - 13:56
Yep, I've read in a couple places Office 11 will use XML.
Quote this comment #2.2 Posted by Tom Servo on 21 Nov 2002 - 17:08
It has an option(!) to use XML, it's default formats are the same ones like in OXP.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by miguelcanada on 21 Nov 2002 - 17:47
this is so dumb... get lost sun.. all they ever do is try and be the "standards" people with there "committees"... Microsoft has had xml support for years now.. Microsoft has been touting that all there products have xml support now.. this is part of the freaking .net initiative... Sun is just trying to make the news again... you stupid idiots Sun... I used to listen to these guys before they got pissed at Microsoft for changing the microsft version of Java's engine, because it was total crap and kept crashing windows.. then microsoft gets sued by them, they rip off microsofts code and sends an "update" that is just microsofts engine... good lord guys get a life! A little late to tell MS to use xml.. they are already in like every product you dinks!
Quote this comment #3.1 Posted by Fotix on 22 Nov 2002 - 01:36
NOTE TO NEOWIN READERS: miguel trolls nearly every article he replies to, so don't talk to him. you've been warned.
Quote this comment #3.2 Posted by miguelcanada on 22 Nov 2002 - 09:13
what does trolls article mean? that i check back on articles ive posted on? doesnt everybody? do you just post and not check back... i dont get it...
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