Microsoft Statement Open XML

While we are disappointed with the decision of the BIS LITD 15 committee, we are very encouraged by the

support of IT industry players like NASSCOM, TCS, Wipro and Infosys who voted in favor of Open XML becoming an ISO standard. Further, the Indian government, industry stalwarts and trade bodies have supported multiple standards and technology neutrality.

We will therefore continue to work with the government to address any concerns they may have; and to achieve its stated goal of technology neutrality. We are committed to working towards what is best for the Indian IT industry.

Open XML encourages choice, flexibility and interoperability for IT industry and IT users – a fact underlined by leading Indian IT solution providers increasingly using the format as a preferred technology standard for applications addressing both the Indian and global customers.

The concerns raised by the LITD 15 Committee have been addressed by the ISO and Ecma International (the proposer of the ISO/IEC DIS 29500 Office Open XML) with a majority of the comments getting addressed at the recently concluded Ballot Resolution Meeting (BRM) at Geneva.

We hoped that *98.73% of the total 1027 comments from all National Bodies stood resolved at the BRM *would be welcomed by the BIS, as it has been by the National Bodies of numerous countries.

Open XML was approved by Ecma International in December 2006, and then submitted by them for standardization at the ISO. At the conclusion of the Ballot process, the BIS voted a ‘Disapprove with 82 Comments’ in September 2007 for Open XML. Between September 2007 and January 2008, Ecma International worked on and submitted proposed dispositions to all the comments, all of which were discussed during the Ballot Resolution

Meeting last month; and 1011 of them adopted by consensus. The ISO will take a decision after March 29, 2008, the last date for receiving votes from all member nations.

For further information, please contact:

Sabah Hamid

Manager – Corporate PR

Microsoft India

Mobile: 9811799075

E-mail: sabah@microsoft.com