“Microsoft’s standard-bearer for the Open Office XML (OOXML)
format faces a tight deadline if it wants to keep the application
on the fast track.“Ecma International, which submitted the file format for
approval by the International Standards Organization (ISO) on
Microsoft’s behalf last December, has until Feb. 28 to respond to
comments made by the standards boards of 19 different
countries.“Ecma, which helps develop and publish technology standards,
will also have to change a lot of voters’ minds. A proposed
standard needs the approval of two-thirds of the voting members.
The committee considering the application, the Joint Technical
Committee 1 (JTC1), has 30 member countries…”