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India Votes Against OOXML

Posted by kdawson on from the one-down dept.

harsha_c sends in a local Indian perspective on the vote against Microsoft's OOXML ahead of the March 29 deadline. Of 19 companies participating, only 5 voted in favor of OOXML. "It was the ultimate battle for control over global IT standard for documents — between Microsoft-promoted OOXML and Sun and IBM-backed Open Document Format. It was played out between Indian IT giants, namely Infosys, Wipro, TCS supported by Nasscom on one side and the global IT biggies like IBM, Sun Microsystems, Red Hat backed by te IITs, IIMs and IISc on the other, on their respective positions on Microsoft's OOXML standard. Microsoft understandably expressed its disspointment. 'While we are disappointed with the decision of the BIS committee, we are encouraged by the support from NASSCOM.'

4 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Hooray! An honest nation! by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While voting for OOXML does not automatically make one dishonest, I think it is fair to say that voting against is a sign of honesty.

  2. Re:"One standard" vs "multiple standards" by erroneus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    A few donations, free lunches and trips to exotic places will likely convince decision makers otherwise. You know it's true. That's just the way things work for now.

  3. This is a big win by aloktherocker · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While Mr Gates may be starting to feel that he's loosing it,this really means good news for India. In a country where more than 70% of the people use pirated software,ignorant of any software licenses. As an Indian,i've seen that when people buy a computer,they just pay for the hardware. It probably is too obvious for them that software (pirated windows) should come free with it! Here only Open Source can ensure that people get it right. Rejecting OOXML is of course a big step for starters. ODF FTW :)

  4. ODF is backed by more than just two by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's a bite that MS can always come late to the table with something broken and then get equal billing in the press. MOOX came as an attempt to compete with ODF, after some 600 companies reviewed ODF as an open standard. How is it then, that no matter how positive the articles is to open standards, the situation always gets spun as MS vs MS competitors? Really, how else can it be? One the one side you have the cult of MS. On the other side, all the major companies, governments and universities, except for the cult of MS. So by definition these are going to be 'MS competitors'. How about some reality injections here.