| Open XML/ODF translation work progresses |
Jun. 23, 2007
 Analysis -- What does Xandros get out of its recent deal with Microsoft? Well, for one thing, the well-known Linux desktop distributor will get Open XML/ODF translators for OpenOffice.
These translators are being developed through the SourceForge-hosted Open XML/ODF Translator project. This is the same translation project that Novell and Microsoft have been working on for some time now.
The translators, which are still works in progress, according to Xandros, will be made available to Xandros users via the Xandros Networks update facility. New Xandros product packages, which include OpenOffice.org, will soon come with the translators already equipped.
At this time, the most fully functional of the translators is the word processing document module. The spreadsheet and presentation document translators are getting closer, but they won't be ready for prime time use until later this summer, according to Novell engineers.
"This is good news for customers," said Tom Robertson, Microsoft's general manager for interoperability and standards in a statement. "Xandros and Microsoft share the view that competing office productivity applications should make it easy for customers to exchange files with one another. Mixed system environments are becoming more common, and we believe in delivering interoperability by design for the benefit of our customers. Our ongoing collaborative relationships with commercial open source companies like Xandros help us achieve that goal."
Xandros CEO Andreas Typaldos added, "We are delighted to join forces with Microsoft and others to provide interoperability between standardized XML document formats. The work of the world is done using various document formats as well as operating systems, so it is vital to provide our customers with the means to interoperate with ease in this diverse environment."
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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