Look at the three server blade systems in this blade server roundup: three different enclosure designs, three different physical shapes and connector sets for the server blade, three different arrangements for power supplies, expansion modules, and daughter cards, and three different management interfaces. What the world cries out for is a server-blade standard: one slot design and one electrical backplane and power-connection specification.
An emerging communications protocol called SIMPLE is the front-runner to become the standard method for sharing online presence information and instant messages across the Internet, thanks to backing from market leaders AOL Time Warner Inc. and Microsoft Corp.