Mark Harrison posted about the new Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework that utilizes .NET technologies to connect Office applications with enterprise data sources.

Mark posted several links to get help get you started, and I really recommend watching the video with Architect Vijay Mital for the high-level overview. If you're pressed for time, there is also some brief Flash demos to introduce the product. Finally, if you're interested in getting your hands dirty, there is a beta download available along with several other materials to get you started.

Who is the target audience for IBF solutions? Microsoft is targeting the “Swivel Chair“ information worker who needs to access data from a variety of sources, who regularly use Office applications, and who need to manipulate data from multiple different sources. It is not targetd for traditional line of business data intensive entry applications. I'd like to compare it to information at your fingertips, that you can modify within your Office application, without having to go to several different systems to retrieve and manage data.

The IBF is an evolutionary step in truly integrating .NET into the enterprise. Microsoft is doing a tremendous job of providing the development community with all the tools and training necessary to expand the common vision of stand-alone information applications to embedded .NET connected solutions using the familiar tools and environment of the Office System.