Microsoft Open XML could 'cripple' ODF

Redmond takes on open source standard

Gartner recommends that enterprises looking into the Open Document Format (ODF) should delay any decision until they have studied Microsoft's rival Open XML format.

Enterprises seeking an open XML-based document format will get more features from Microsoft's specifications, which would justify waiting, according to the analyst firm.

Microsoft has not said when the new format will be approved, but Gartner estimates that this will take at least until the first quarter of 2007.

"Adopt the Oasis [Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards] format if you can exploit XML now for significant business advantages," the firm wrote in a research paper. Otherwise users should "wait and see".

The ODF is backed by a consortium of industry players including Adobe, IBM and Sun Microsystems. The standard was approved by Oasis earlier this year.

Gartner's advice comes at a time when ODF backers are scrambling to point out the format's flaws.

Sun has suggested that it is surrounded by uncertainty over its exact terms and should not yet be taken seriously. Others have suggested that the format lacks sufficient openness.

Microsoft decided to submit the format to the European Computer Manufacturers Association standards body to counter criticism from enterprises and government bodies that the format lacked in openness.

The Government of Massachusetts was one of the more vocal Microsoft opponents and publicly stated last September that from 2007 it could disqualify Microsoft Office.

The state's governor, however, has already said that he considered the proposed changes to be sufficient.