This info FYI. We will be asked to position DFDL vis a vis XML optimized via XOP for example. I don't think this changes anything. These are again "prescriptive" data representation schemes. DFDL is descriptive. But it is addressing some of the "XML is too bloated and slow" concerns bit by bit. Also, I think XOP is only efficient if used to package large binary objects like images and such. If you had data with lots of small fields in it then XOP doesn't help. ...mikeb cg20W3C Specs for "Faster, Efficient" Web Services Section: 04. Application Development and Platforms The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) yesterday issued three recommended web services specifications, designed to efficiently package and transmit binary data included in, or referenced in, SOAP 1.2. The group has released XML-binary Optimized Packaging (XOP), SOAP Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism (MTOM) and Resource Representation SOAP Header Block (RRSHB). In a statement, the W3C said the specifications means web services "just became faster and more usable." Michael Curry Ascential SOA Product Marketing O: 508-599-7157 M: 508-904-7384 <http://www.ascential.com/> http://www.ascential.com