The free[1] multi-platform open source office suite OpenOffice.org has released its version 2.1. This time it seems like they are focusing on how it is possible to make extensions for the suite. The list of extensions is small but growing and something I will follow (I have to check out that quasiwiki extension).

Perhaps more importantly I see that more and more office suites are starting to support the OpenDocument format. Recently Abiword released a new version where the change log lists a lot of .odt bug fixes. KOffice, on the other hand, was the first to announce OpenDocument support and is now using it as their default format. Corel also recently announced that they will be supporting OpenDocument. The software giant IBM has also promised support for this format in their suite of products including Lotus Notes.

So if you care about freedom and the importance of open access to the content we create you should consider using a suite that support this open standard now or in the near future.

If you want to know more about the importance of using an open format you should read David Wheelers ‘Why OpenDocument Won (and Microsoft Office Open XML Didn’t) ‘.

Over at the OpenDocument Fellowship you will find a more complete list of applications that support OpenDocument.

[1] Both as in ‘freedom‘ and as in ‘free beer’.