Web Services and Proprietary Standards

Sean McGrath writes about Web Services and Proprietary Standards, building off of the thread started by Jon Udell and picked up by Steve Vinoski. All of them make valid points.

Sean makes a really important point, quite similar to one I've been making with customers for a while now. Interoperability is an unnatural act for a vendor. If they (the customer) want/need interoperability, they need to demand it. They simply cannot assume that the vendors will deliver interoperable solutions out of some altruistic motivation. The vendors are primarily motivated by profit, not good will. However, most vendors do listen to their customers. When a majority of them seem to be saying the same thing, that's usually when things start to get noticed.

The customer needs to make their requirements for interoperability known. I think that in the context of Web services, that the best, and most appropriate forum for doing so is WS-I.

In reality, this is much like a democracy where you need to be involved, you need to voice your opinion through the ballot-box or you have no business complaining.