To Googles recent purchase of Writely, a company that makes a Web-based word processor; the creation of Google Spreadsheets; and the release of Google Calendar, you can now add impending broad support for the ODF (OpenDocument Format) to Googles online office moves.
During the 4th of July week, Google quietly joined the ODF Alliance.
The Alliance seeks to promote and advance the use of ODF.
The ODFs membership already included nonprofit groups and government agencies, as well as major corporate ODF backers such as IBM and Sun Microsystems.
ODF Alliance head Marino Marcich said, “We really cant comment on what Googles plans are regarding ODF, but the Alliance is certainly pleased that they have come on board.
“There has been quite a bit of positive activity in the ODF world of late (Belgium, France, Denmark) and all of this points to ODFs growing momentum around the globe.”
Google has not yet announced that it has joined the Alliance. Calls to Google officials were not returned.
Still, it seems logical that Google could use a common and open standard for all of its users document creation needs.