And, an update:
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/
Updegrove is now writing,
<quote>
Last night, I projected that the OOXML vote in ISO/IEC JTC1 would
fail. I now have confirmation from someone who has seen the official
results that indeed the vote has failed.
By way of indirect confirmation, Microsoft has issued a press release
on the OOXML vote. The release is titled Strong Global Support for
Open XML as It Enters Final Phase of ISO Standards Process, and
subtitled, "Significant participation by National Bodies in ISO/IEC
ratification process for Open XML; final decision expected in March
2008 at close of ballot resolution period." Official confirmation
will need to await the availability of the vote from ISO (I cannot as
yet find it on line), but this is not the press release title that
one would expect if the Yes votes had carried the day.
Instead, the release focuses on the degree of participation (51
National Bodies), and level of "support" (74% of all qualified votes,
without differentiating between P and O countries). It also refers to
this level of support at "this preliminary stage of the process," and
compares it "favorably" to the number of countries participating in
the votes to consider ODF and PDF, but without mentioning percentage
levels of support, which would include Observer as well as
Participating member votes. It explains this level of participation
as follows:
This widespread participation and support is consistent with the
rapid adoption of the Ecma Office Open XML file formats across
multiple platforms and products from a wide range of IT vendors
(including Apple, Novell, Corel, Sun, Microsoft, Java developers and
Linux distributors), creating real value for IT users around the globe.
</quote>
MS's press release is amazing, actually a work of (dark) art.
best
louis
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