Software giant Microsoft has lost out to ODF in the battle to serve as the state’s open source document provider

After years of deliberation, parliament has voted to stop using Microsoft’s Open Suite file format and switch to ‘Open Document Format’, reports financial daily Børsen.

Already in 2006, parliament had voted to abandon common Microsoft document programmes such as Word in favour of open source documents. But the choice at that point came down to using Microsoft’s own OOXML open source format or ODF, whose specifications were originally developed by Sun Microsystems. The ODF standard was created by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards.

MPs voting for the change said the new format will be cheaper than Microsoft’s and of a higher quality. They have allowed, however, for the future use of OOXML documents within the system.

The new format will take effect on 1 April 2011.