>I think you're confusing a few things. ADO is not OLE DB. ADO is a wrapper around OLE DB. C++ programmers can access OLE DB directly and never do anything with ADO. OLE DB is the data access technology. ADO and XML are data transport technologies.

Good point, Craig. I agree I oversimplified the concept porposed on the article on my initial post. The article does discuss some additional pieces that need be in place to indeed replace OLE DB (not ADO.) As I said to Alexander, I wouldn't venture to explain it here since I am still trying to understand it myself ;)

In fact that's the reason I posted the original thread, to spark some comments and ideas of people that has a better understanding of these technologies.