XML changes all that. That doesn't mean GM's system will be an open book, though. Its XML will be customized so that each business partner can see only the information it needs. Parts suppliers can come into the system, but they can't examine executives' salaries. If XML's benefits are crystal clear, the business models are less obvious.
Nobody can make money selling basic XML technology.
It's free, as are many of the tools and tags already developed. For Microsoft, Sun, and IBM, the key is XML's efficiency for integrating networks. Today, many companies are struggling with multiple computer systems that communicate only with difficulty. Sun's Java programming language was the first step toward a remedy, since a Java application can run on any computer. Mention Java, however, and conflicting strategies come into sharp relief.