Adobe Systems Inc., Corel, IBM and Sun also weigh in on state's plan to move computer networks onto an open-file format by January 2007.A proposal in Massachusetts to move computer networks onto an open-file format by January 2007 is sparking debate, as companies like Microsoft Corp, Adobe Systems Inc., Corel Corp., IBM and Sun Microsystems Inc. weigh in on the potential shift.
Although the public has been invited to comment on an initial draft, available on the state government's Information Technology Division site, responses were solicited from the major tech companies.
The letter getting the most attention is from Microsoft, which supplied a 15-page comment that was copied to the state's governor, Mitt Romney. Microsoft is objecting to the agency's recommendations that the OpenDocument standard would better able to facilitate agencies to communicate with each other as well as share data.
"We have substantial concerns ... with the definition of 'open formats' in the current proposal," wrote Alan Yates, general manager at Microsoft. This definition, he noted, requires adoption of a single format for office documents throughout all state agencies, requiring deployment of a single office application technology.
"As such, this unprecedented approach not only prevents impacted state agencies of the Commonwealth from using many critical and well-established technologies but also runs afoul of well-established procurement norms without due consideration for the enormous costs and technical challenges that stem from the proposal," Yates wrote.
Microsoft contended that the state is not aware that the company has shipped an open format in the current version of Office 2003, and will focus more strongly on the issue with the next iteration of the application, code-named Office "12."
"We thought it was important to express our concerns," said Yates. "We're looking forward to having the proposal more thoroughly reviewed, and we welcome the opportunity to explain our comments more fully."
David Coursey says Massachusetts is fighting a losing battle. Click here to read more.
Other responses to the draft ranged from general support for a switch in 2007 to suggestions for subsequent drafts.
In its letter, Corel encouraged Massachusetts to maintain its "leadership and innovation in the adoption of open standards," and encouraged the state to continue going toward that direction.
Read the full story on eweek.com: Microsoft Challenges Massachusetts on Open-Format Plan
Graphics Tools 
