MS Announces Open XML Formats Developer Group

Andy Updegrove writes to tell us that Microsoft has responded to the recently formed ODF Alliance with a group of their own, the Open XML Formats Developer Group. From the article: "At launch, the new forum has either 39 or 40 members (the site is internally inconsistent on this point), the most prominent of which are Apple, Intel and Toshiba. [...] Despite the long list of founding members, it appears that the forum is purely informational in nature. A review of the site indicates that no specific initiatives are planned to be undertaken by the forum. Instead, it will provide information and provide a place for developers to pose questions, post content, and engage in discussion."

Comments

The new forum has either 39 or 40 members

[Anonymous Coward]

The forum actually has 40 members, but one of them was ducking a flying chair at the time you must have been looking.

Nice one, Bill.

[Rob T Firefly]

Gates noted that the new group, to be known as the Open XML Formats Developer Group, brings together three of his favorite words--"open," "XML," and "developer." "No organization is good unless you put 'open' " in there, Gates said.

So when exactly can we expect MicroOpenSoft to release OpenWindows?

That's MS Open (TM), I take it?

[NickFortune]

You have to adminer Microsoft's determination to redefine "open" as meaning "closed".

I bet people in Redmond spend a lot of time walking into doors these days