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The Future of ADO.NET
In the future, expect Microsoft to continue improving the ADO.NET model of data access. Connected cursor models and a higher-level API called DataSpaces, similar in concept to the Entity bean of Enterprise Java Beans, were presented for developer feedback as possible enhancements to the ADO.NET model during the Microsoft Professional Developer's Conference in October of 2001. Expect other data sources such as Oracle databases to have custom .NET data providers in the future.