Conclusions: Interoperability is Job One

• Interoperability problems helped kill X the last time around - and split ISV market

  • And never interoperated in terms of UI "look and feel"
  • Competition with interoperability is healthy and vital

• "Standards" work is vital

  • e.g. Window manager spec, common themes & UI details. MIME types, Firewall proxy specs

• Terms and conditions of any "consortia" set up to oversee a piece of technology are crucial

  • The X Consortium pattern is wrong
  • Should operate much more like the IETF
  • Beware of financial and organizational strings