In early digital days, every word processor had its own unique format and because of this, interoperability across applications was poor.

FORBES: Death of The Document

The standards allow interoperability and portability of applications and data between clouds anywhere in the world.

FORBES: How The Cloud Can Unify The World: OpenStack And Nebula

Paris (France), Las Vegas (NV), January 7, 2013 - Technicolor (Euronext Paris: TCH), a worldwide technology leader in the media and entertainment sector, today announced the release of Qeo, a software framework that allows for seamless interoperability between devices and applications of all brands and ecosystems.

ENGADGET: Technicolor's Qeo software aims to let connected devices speak the same lingo

All products and applications designed around UPA guidelines will communicate, from simple coexistence to full interoperability.

ENGADGET: UPA and HomeGrid Forum agree to support G.hn networking standard

Only one thing will eliminate or reduce the risk of vendor lock-in in the long run: if end-user customers start demanding standardization and interoperability, just as they have in the past with on-premises applications.

FORBES: Cloud Computing's Vendor Lock-In Problem: Why the Industry is Taking a Step Backward

The product includes new levels of security, data protection, interoperability and system performance to extend EMC Isilon storage to a broader range of big data applications.

FORBES: Big Data, Big Storage