This document discusses how open source software and standards are influencing the direction of geospatial technology. It notes that geospatial is becoming more integrated with mainstream IT through the adoption of standards like SQL and XML. Open standards and commoditization are creating opportunities for open source geospatial software like MapServer and PostGIS. The document outlines the growth of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation and statistics on major open source geospatial projects. It argues open source is enabling new opportunities for the utility industry through Web 2.0 approaches that streamline information flow and enable field staff participation.