openAdmin
10-26-2009, 10:59 PM
Microsoft (http://www.opensourcegroups.com/www.microsoft.com) officially announced today that it would be opening its Outlook's PST file format by publishing documentation. Each time in the past that Microsoft offered to publish technical specifications, the company was responding to a bullwhip wielded by the European Commission. Is this time different? Not at all.
Today Microsoft promised that the published documentation of .PST " will allow developers to read, create, and interoperate with the data in .pst files in server and client scenarios using the programming language and platform of their choice, said Paul Lorimer, group manager of Microsoft Office Interoperability in a blog post. (http://blogs.msdn.com/interoperability/archive/2009/10/26/roadmap-for-outlook-personal-folders-pst-documentation.aspx) Lorimer was vague as to when the promised documentation would be available however he did say that once published, it .PST would be available as open source. He wrote:
"When it is complete, it will be released under our Open Specification Promise, which will allow anyone to implement the .pst file format on any platform and in any tool, without concerns about patents, and without the need to contact Microsoft in any way."
Microsoft has previously published the .PST file by opening the Outlook Object Model, which was an interface that allowed .Net applications to tap into Outlook 2007. But, notes the folks at Betanews (http://www.betanews.com/article/At-long-last-Microsoft-to-release-Outlook-PST-file-specifications/1256583207), the Object Model assumed that Outlook 2007 was running.
The EC had months ago forced Microsoft into promising to open more of its core applications. In July, (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/439&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en) the EC noted, as part of its press release regarding (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/439&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)Web browser competition:
"In July 2009, Microsoft also made proposals in relation to disclosures of interoperability information that would improve interoperability between third party products and several Microsoft products, including Windows, Windows Server, Office, Exchange, and SharePoint (see MEMO/09/352 (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/352&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)). Microsoft is publishing improved proposals on its website. The Commission welcomes this initiative. Even though it remains informal vis-à-vis the Commission, Microsoft’s proposal, which is in the form of a public undertaking, includes warranties that Microsoft offers to third parties and that can be privately enforced."
The timing of today's news makes me wonder if we will be hearing from the EC, perhaps on Tuesday, announcing that another wrist slap of Microsoft. Every other time Microsoft opened one of its more precious file formats, the next day the EC announced fines or investigations. But then again, maybe such public admonitions are no longer necessary. Maybe Microsoft knows that it had better make announcements every quarter -- even ones with vague timing like this one -- that it is opening more of its file formats. Next up, we should be hearing about SharePoint.
Check out the original article that appeared in NetworkWorld.com (http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/46752)
To view Paul Lorimer's blog, visit http://blogs.msdn.com/interoperability/archive/2009/10/26/roadmap-for-outlook-personal-folders-pst-documentation.aspx
Today Microsoft promised that the published documentation of .PST " will allow developers to read, create, and interoperate with the data in .pst files in server and client scenarios using the programming language and platform of their choice, said Paul Lorimer, group manager of Microsoft Office Interoperability in a blog post. (http://blogs.msdn.com/interoperability/archive/2009/10/26/roadmap-for-outlook-personal-folders-pst-documentation.aspx) Lorimer was vague as to when the promised documentation would be available however he did say that once published, it .PST would be available as open source. He wrote:
"When it is complete, it will be released under our Open Specification Promise, which will allow anyone to implement the .pst file format on any platform and in any tool, without concerns about patents, and without the need to contact Microsoft in any way."
Microsoft has previously published the .PST file by opening the Outlook Object Model, which was an interface that allowed .Net applications to tap into Outlook 2007. But, notes the folks at Betanews (http://www.betanews.com/article/At-long-last-Microsoft-to-release-Outlook-PST-file-specifications/1256583207), the Object Model assumed that Outlook 2007 was running.
The EC had months ago forced Microsoft into promising to open more of its core applications. In July, (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/439&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en) the EC noted, as part of its press release regarding (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/439&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)Web browser competition:
"In July 2009, Microsoft also made proposals in relation to disclosures of interoperability information that would improve interoperability between third party products and several Microsoft products, including Windows, Windows Server, Office, Exchange, and SharePoint (see MEMO/09/352 (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/352&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)). Microsoft is publishing improved proposals on its website. The Commission welcomes this initiative. Even though it remains informal vis-à-vis the Commission, Microsoft’s proposal, which is in the form of a public undertaking, includes warranties that Microsoft offers to third parties and that can be privately enforced."
The timing of today's news makes me wonder if we will be hearing from the EC, perhaps on Tuesday, announcing that another wrist slap of Microsoft. Every other time Microsoft opened one of its more precious file formats, the next day the EC announced fines or investigations. But then again, maybe such public admonitions are no longer necessary. Maybe Microsoft knows that it had better make announcements every quarter -- even ones with vague timing like this one -- that it is opening more of its file formats. Next up, we should be hearing about SharePoint.
Check out the original article that appeared in NetworkWorld.com (http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/46752)
To view Paul Lorimer's blog, visit http://blogs.msdn.com/interoperability/archive/2009/10/26/roadmap-for-outlook-personal-folders-pst-documentation.aspx