Hi Sly,--On June 19, 2009 8:32:14 PM +1000 Sly Gryphon <sgryphon at computer.org> wrote:
Given it is the standard, we should simply use the values from it, and simply refer to the tz database the same way that RFC 4833 does:
Actually not. Window's OS's do not use Olson. That is all part of the bigger problem of lack of standardized naming for timezone data that results in poor interoperability in the calendaring world.
One choice for vcard right now is to go with text or uri as the value here. Text would by convention be either an Olson name or a Windows name - clients would have to figure out what exactly that means on their own. The uri gives us the ability to use registered standard identifiers once we have such things. Also, with a timezone service protocol (something that is being worked on) the text forms could be mapped to standard identifiers or UTC offsets as needed.
-- Cyrus Daboo