Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework

The Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework is a set of tools and technologies that use these capabilities to extend the Microsoft Office System, enabling information workers to view and act on business data from within the familiar Microsoft Office System programs.

It is a set of software components, tools, and prescriptive guidance that enable developers to create solutions that connect the Microsoft Office System to virtually any enterprise system or application.

White Paper: Introducing the Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=14F88ACA-4EEE-41D0-B5F2-A8B782AB5E81&displaylang=en

Flash Demo: http://www.microsoft.com/office/ibframework/demo/start.htm

Other Useful Resources:
IBF Case Study: Cascade Designs
Information Bridge Framework Presentation: Business Overview (PowerPoint document)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/office/understanding/ibframework/multimedia/default.aspx
Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework 1.5 Resource Kit
Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework 1.5 Software Development Kit (SDK) Documentation
Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework Service Pack 1.5
Download Information Bridge Framework 1.0 Technical Beta Release
Information Bridge Framework on MSDN Office Developer Center

Note: Recently Microsoft is also working on similar to this technology code named "Elixir" - Using Microsoft Outlook to access a data warehouse linked to the Siebel CRM software.
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+turns+to+Elixir+for+Office+boost/2100-1012_3-5545640.html?tag=nefd.lede+