Again this year we will be talking interoperability at the Interop Las Vegas conference. The event is next week (Apr-27 to May-2) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Microsoft will have a large booth presence where we will be showcasing a the work of many product groups as well as that of Interop Vendor Alliance members and other key partners like Novell to foster improved interoperability. Bob Muglia (Microsoft Sr. Vice President, Server and Tools) will be offering a keynote address on Tuesday afternoon at 2pm. As the host of our Interoperability Executive Customer Council, Bob is an outspoken advocate for delivering on our promise of interoperability, and always using customers as the compass for this work.

Additionally, we will be hosting an Interoperability Track during the conference program where we will discuss a variety of technical issues, and how interoperability challenges are being addressed in these areas through product development, community & partner engagement, access to technology, and standards. I will be hosting two of the sessions on Tuesday: one on Document Format Interoperability, and one on the Identity Metasystem. These are two subjects that are near and dear to my heard and to that of the broader IT community so I am looking forward to a lively and fruitful discussion.

If you have not yet signed up for the conference, now is your last chance! If you are coming, stop by and say "hi".

-C