And yesterday, I just found out that I know some of the folks who enlightened those who represented the country in the ISO standardization process. Let me say this first - KUDOS and GREAT JOB guys!

Despite the uphill climb Microsoft is having in getting their OOXML approved as an international standard, Microsoft keeps on oiling their marketing gears highlighting the strengths and benefits of their OOXML format.

However, please take note that the OOXML is not *yet* an ISO standard. Do not be confused. OOXML is an ECMA-standard, a European standards body and NOT a GLOBAL standards body like International Organization for Standardization (ISO)!

Let’s leave the standardization process to the ISO first and check if OOXML is indeed, as Microsoft claims, open. First, I have seen a youtube clip (<http://tinyurl.com/2glgvt>) where OOXML’s strengths were being shown to journalists. However, what they did not show was how you can edit the XML files and then open it using Microsoft Office. In theory, as Microsoft boasts, it should work, right? Unfortunately, this is not true. Stephane Rodriguez, in his blog (<http://tinyurl.com/2hhgyp >), found that out the hard way. So why is it not working?

Second, even with the new ECMA standard, Microsoft did not even comply with that standard. Case in point is a reply from Microsoft Office program manager, Brian Jones, to a comment made on his blog about possible changes to the OOXML standard as approved by ECMA. Here’s a quote,

"To your last point, it’s hard for Microsoft to commit to what comes out of Ecma in the coming years, because we don’t know what direction they will take the formats. We’ll of course stay active and propose changes based on where we want to go with Office 14. At the end of the day though, the other Ecma members could decide to take the spec in a completely different direction. Now my impression is that won’t happen, as the folks on the TC all have pretty similar visions for the future of the spec, but since it’s not guaranteed it would be hard for us to make any sort of official statement."

This clearly outlines the fact that Microsoft is not willing to be a team player in defining OOXML as a global standard! Whatever standards there is today, they will tweak it to their advantage and leave the rest of us on our own! Now, talk about OPEN!

Related to this second point, another blogger, Bob Sutor (<http://tinyurl.com/yvz8ru>), recommends against saving in OOXML format today! This is contrary to what Microsoft has been saying! Read his blog to get the full story but basically, he just pointed out that the Microsoft Office 2007 OOXML format is NOT the same as the ECMA OOXML format that was submitted to the ISO for approval.

This renders the current OOXML file format dead already considering the extensions and modifications Microsoft added in Office 2007.

So - don’t believe the hype! Don’t be left behind when the rest of the Philippines rejects OOXML and you are left with a non-OPEN "OPEN OFFICE XML" file format.

Remember, Microsoft could have just supported the ISO/IEC 26300 for office documents, aka ODF, and shout to the world that they have truly embraced open standards but they chose not to because that will open them more to competitors and everyone knows they prefer to monopolize the market.

If you still doubt ODF, then check out Google’s Document and Spreadsheet application -- both supports the ISO standards. Even Apple is starting to support it in their applications (see Textedit). So, again - don’t be left behind! Don’t believe the hype! Just say NO to OOXML!