n be generic or tailored to a specific client's needs. The idea is to develop repeatable assets, be they experiential or technical, that can then be applied to future projects and developments. velOSSity's work comes to life in the form of reference platforms that serve several purposes. They help IICs understand how to use technology to overcome some common business problems. For example, the first version of the reference platform automated the DSL ordering, provisioning, testing and activation process. Built on an EAI bus, the platform incorporated package solutions and hardware from as many as 15 different vendors. In doing so, it demonstrated a number of integrated solutions, from Web-enabled customer care and flow- through ordering and provisioning to automated loop testing, that address real world problems DSL providers often face. Later versions have automated ASP service provisioning, optical network activation and mobile workforce and order management applications. Where initiatives like velOSSity really add value is in encouraging industry collaboration to solve specific business problems. Where standards are lacking, and where the business is moving too fast for standards groups to keep up, initiatives such as velOSSity fill the gap to create best practices or even de facto standards. This is where innovation occurs, and where initiatives like velOSSity will impact eOSS' future. For example, work is under way in velOSSity to create The Ultimate Guide to Building and Delivering OSS/BSS solutions for product catalog integration problems. velOSSity provides a facility and resources for vendors to come together and try various approaches. The more these vendors work together, the better we understand how different applications' product catalogs behave. It also provides the chance for more experimentation with solutions, which generally leads to more robust integration options for IICs. This is true for more than just product catalog integration. velOSSity labs are also tackling Web-care and flow-through, 