In a reversal, the state government of Massachusetts has thrown its support to Microsoft in an ongoing battle over office software formats and has launched an investigation into the state’s former IT chief, who had been championing open-source software.

“The Commonwealth is very pleased with Microsoft’s progress in creating an open document format,� said the state’s Administration and Finance (A&F) Secretary Tom Trimarco in a short statement on Thanksgiving eve. “If Microsoft follows through as planned, we are optimistic that Office Open XML will meet our new standards for acceptable open formats.�

Previously, the administration of Governor Mitt Romney had proposed the exclusive use of the OpenDocument format, which has been vigorously opposed by Microsoft. The previous A&F Secretary, Eric Kriss, who was instrumental in fostering the OpenDocument policy. Kriss has left his position, leaving the state’s director of Informational Technology Division, Peter Quinn, without top-level support.

EETimes

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