One person that I spoke with at Microsoft gave me this illustration. (Sorry I don’t remember his name!) At the end of Kubrick’s film Spartacus (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054331/) everyone stands up and says “I’m Spartacus.” Although I haven’t seen the film in years I remember this scene so it must have left an impression on me. After all these years I finally have found out that Microsoft is Spartacus. Here is why. Everything at Microsoft is about integration. For instance everyone wants to use webservices. Sql does, Biztalk does, ASP.Net does, WSE does, Indigo does, even Office does – when will they standardize on Indigo!!! Hopefully in my career lifetime. So exactly what product do I recommend for my clients? Biztalk Sql Integration Services (replacement for DTS) Host Integration Server Indigo Let me confuse you even more. Yes Biztalk adapters can use Indigo - eventually. Sql Integration Services can use the Host Integration Server provider just like any other provider. But how do these things help me talk to say Weblogic or Websphere? Yeah I’m definitely all messed up in the head. But after long discussions with Scott (http://blogs.msdn.com/scottwoo/archive/2005/03/10/393990.aspx) I think where Microsoft is going does make sense. Hang out on Scott’s site and learn lots.