Sun Plans Open XML-To-ODF Converter As Standards Battle Heats Up

Sun in the coming weeks plans to release software that will add support for an already recognized standard -- Oasis' Open Document Format -- to Microsoft's Office products. "We've done what Microsoft could and should have done in the first place instead of FUD-ing and fighting," wrote Simon Phipps, Sun's chief open-source officer, in a blog posting on the topic.

Sun's initial StarOffice 8 Conversion Technology plug-in for Microsoft Office will be available "in a few weeks," Phipps wrote last week. Sun will later add a plug-in to support the conversion of spreadsheets and presentations authored in Microsoft formats to applications that use ODF. Sun says the conversion will be transparent to users. The company has posted a screen shot showing how Microsoft Word will look with the plug-in installed.

Massachusetts is using an early version of the technology to begin a phased migration from Microsoft Office applications to applications based on ODF, according to Sun.

Phipps' blog comments come as Microsoft's efforts to have Open XML recognized by the International Standards Organization turn increasingly vitriolic. Earlier this week, Microsoft accused IBM of sabotaging its efforts to win ISO approval for the format.

In an open letter published Tuesday, Microsoft said, "IBM led a global campaign urging national bodies to demand" that Open XML not even be considered as a standard by the ISO. Microsoft called IBM's actions "a blatant attempt to use the standards process to limit choice in the marketplace," according to the letter.

Microsoft said IBM is arguing that the ISO should recognize only ODF -- which is embedded in IBM's Lotus Notes products -- as a standard for document creation software. IBM's "campaign to limit choice and force their single standard on consumers should be resisted," Microsoft charged. IBM didn't comment on Microsoft's allegations.