Open Malaysia

The ODF Alliance just released their latest newsletter. (Anyone can subscribe to it.) Note that Google just joined the ODF Alliance. There is also much news here on Belgium's adoption of ODF and Microsoft's announcement of its ODF translator.

ODF Alliance Newsletter 13 July 2006

Microsoft Announces Development of OpenXML/ODF Translator Tool
According to Microsoft, the tool, which will essentially be installable plug-ins, will provide two additional menu items - “OpenODF” and “SaveODF” - and will be developed by Clever Age (France) and tested by Aztecsoft (India) and Dialogika (Germany). Microsoft will not be contributing code or providing architectural guidance. Microsoft spokespersons stated that the final version of the translator for Word is expected to be available from SourceForge for download by the end of 2006 (prototype linked below), and sometime in 2007 for Excel and PowerPoint. For commentary and analysis on this development, please see the links below.
Groklaw Analysis - http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20060706064747376
Bob Sutor's Open Blog - http://www.sutor.com/newsite/blog-open/index.php?p=783
Simon Phipps - http://blogs.sun.com/roller/page/webmink?entry=kicking_and_screaming
Sam Hiser - http://fussnotes.typepad.com/plexnex/
MS Announcement - http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jul06/07-06OpenSourceProjectPR.mspx
SourceForge Prototype - http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/odf-converter

OFE, Alliance Co-Host Events In Brussels and London
The ODF Alliance was pleased to partner with OpenForum Europe (OFE) in hosting several events in Europe. The first, held at Scotland House in Brussels on July 4, gave several EU member states a chance to report on progress. Belgium was officially represented by an official from FEDICT, the ICT policy unit at the heart of the Belgian government. Speakers from Denmark and France also discussed what their main concerns were and Simon Phipps of Sun gave his perspective. Florian Reuter of the the OpenDocument Foundation demonstrated a converter. The second event, which took place at the historical venue of the Guildhall in London on July 6, was more focused on the UK, and made all the more interesting by Microsoft's announcement on that day of the project to develop an ODF translator. Bob Sutor, IBM's VP for Standards and Open Source, was one of the two keynote speakers, the other being Gavin Beckett from Bristol City Council (UK), which recently joined the Alliance.
Bristol City Council - http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/6656

Massachusetts Holding Tight To January 2007 Target
In an interview with CNET News.com, Massachusetts' CIO Louis Gutierrez said the Commonwealth is sticking to plans to adopt ODF by January 2007. He also said that the mid-year review is expected to be released in late July or early August. A cost analysis of the project is also expected shortly.
http://news.com.com/Mass. holding tight to OpenDocument/2100-7344_3-6090196.html

New Members (240)
The Alliance is pleased to welcome the following new members: Bull (France), Alka France, Google Inc (USA), Bristol City Council (UK), ChinaSoft Resource Corporation, YACME Srl (Italy), Association Lune Rouge (France), Bangladesh Linux Users Alliance, Genii Software Ltd. (USA), Institute for Information Industry (Taiwan), itemis GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Parinux (France), SeeOpen (Italy), and Sp-Process SPA (Italy).