IBM Delivers First Production-Ready Infrastructure Software and Services to Enable Web Services

Business Wire, May 14, 2001

Business & High Tech Editors

SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 2001

Provides New Connectivity for Businesses on Web Plus

Transaction/Integration Capabilities to Take Advantage of It

Targets $50 Billion Industry Opportunity

IBM today announced across-the-board support of open Internet standards for its infrastructure software to provide businesses with new levels of connectivity on the Web. The company also announced new capabilities in its software for businesses to take advantage of that connectivity, including those for securely managing the highest-volume transactions and integrating complex business processes.

In addition, the company announced consulting and systems integration support from IBM Global Services to help businesses build Web services applications using IBM's infrastructure software.

IDC estimates the market for infrastructure software and services that simplify integration of business processes will approach $50 billion by 2005. In addition, the increased integration will drive the growth of transactions on the Web 50-fold in the same time frame.

To target this growth, IBM is enabling all of its infrastructure software -- known as middleware -- with comprehensive support for open Internet standards to enable the development of Web services applications. The support spans IBM's entire middleware portfolio, including DB2, Lotus, Tivoli and WebSphere software.

"Web services are emerging e-business applications that can connect and interact with one another on the Web more easily and efficiently, eliminating much of the time-consuming custom coding currently required in, for example, B2B environments," said Steve Mills, senior vice president and group executive, IBM software group. "The more efficient integration is being driven by a wide range of new open Internet standards, which IBM helped develop and has incorporated in its software. But Web services applications alone are not sufficient. Businesses also need a comprehensive portfolio of infrastructure software to drive transactions and integration -- and we're announcing both pieces of the puzzle today."

Most Comprehensive Portfolio of Open Middleware for Web Services

Specifically, IBM today announced software and tools that enable businesses to create, publish, securely deploy, host and manage Web services applications. The software also enables businesses to convert existing applications into Web services.

Software for developing, publishing, hosting and deploying Web services includes:

-- WebSphere Application Server Version 4, available June 30,

which supports the variety of open standards and technologies

necessary to develop, publish and deploy Web services

applications, including: Universal Description Discovery and

Integration (UDDI); Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP);

Java(TM)2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE)*; Web Services Description

Language (WSDL); and enhanced integration of leading XML

technologies.

Version 4 includes improved capabilities for managing

high-volume transactions, including new caching capabilities

that increase application speed 200-300 percent in high-volume

environments; faster transaction performance; and better

management of multiple connections to applications stored in a

variety of computing systems.

The software also includes new functions for integrating

business processes, including new connectivity and

interoperability options. Through open standards, WebSphere

will connect and interoperate with the largest number of

business applications in the industry, including leading

applications from SAP, PeopleSoft, IBM's CICS, IMS, host

integration and others.

In addition, Version 4 has the ability to interface with a

public UDDI registry. As a result, businesses using WebSphere

can turn new and existing business processes into Web services

applications that can be easily shared among other

organizations, including business partners and customers.

-- WebSphere Studio Technology Preview for Web services, new tools that enable
software developers to build Web services applications. The tools enable
programmers to create, test and deploy Web services applications and connect
them to existing business processes. The tools also enable businesses to
"publish" Web services applications for existing and potential
trading partners via a UDDI Registry. The software will be available in a
preview version this July with a targeted general availability starting this
fall.

-- WebSphere Business Integrator, software that enables businesses to integrate
and manage the "flow" of Web services applications. WebSphere
Business Integrator helps companies manage diverse information and processes
within and between enterprises. This software enables businesses to use the
reliability and transactional characteristics of MQSeries to deliver SOAP
messages from one Web services application to another -- linking the
applications together and managing their interaction. WebSphere Business
Integrator will be available at the end of June.

Software Enabling Web Services Applications to Manage and Access Data: