The British Education Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) has filed a formal complaint against Microsoft with the European Union, saying it has failed to support open standards in the latest addition of the Microsoft Office product line, Office 2007.

It claims that the Office Open XML is not interoperable with software from other vendors, and wants the EU to compel Microsoft to support open standards. And this is not the first time Microsoft and BECTA clashed. Earlier this year, it released a detailed advisory over what should they do with Vista and Office 2007.

The advisory has told schools to not use them, until the schools can find ways to have them interoperable.

NEWS IN BRIEF: TechCrunch is reporting that Comcast has bought social contact list Plaxo today. While financial terms were not disclosed, the purchase price is between $150 and $170 million.

Founded in 2002, Plaxo raised just under $30 million in venture capital. It has also been the subject of rumours of being acquired by Google and Facebook, among other names.

Plaxo is also saying that they will remain independent, and will report to Comcast Interactive Media.

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) is reported to be considering making its own bid to the Federal Government’s proposed  $4.7 billion national boradband contract, putting it in competition with the Optus-led G9 Group.

CEO for SingTel Chua Sock Koong said yesterday that the board would consider launching a separate bid under the right conditions.

The federal budget saw the contract being moved to the Building Australia Fund, where it is controlled by the Finance Minster Lindsay Tanner. The fund will have $20 billion.

Companies have until July 25 to submit their contracts.

Dr Francis Gurry has been nominated as the next director general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), after defeating his Brazilian colleague Jose Aranaha by a single vote.

He had to compete with eight candidates in a three-day meeting. There were sixteen candidates, including Gurry, but seven dropped out.

He needs to be appointed at the next WIPO General Assembly, held on the 20th September to the 22nd September, and will assume the duties on the first day of October.

Previous directors have been from The Netherlands, United States and Sudan.