Java Adoption Hampered by J2EE Complexity, According to New METAspectrum Market Evaluation

Business Wire, August 28, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2002

META Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: METG):

Competition Between Java and Microsoft's .Net Platform to Remain

Intense Throughout 2002/03

META Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: METG) today announced the availability of its newest METAspectrum(SM) market evaluation for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) application server market.

The J2EE application server METAspectrum evaluates vendors of Java-based application servers or "containers" that manage components and services in a multi-tier application. The application server and associated libraries of services are becoming a primary platform for new enterprise application development, providing the core infrastructure once supplied by an operating system.

"We expect IBM and BEA to remain the dominant players in the J2EE application server arena during the next 18-24 months, but the market will continue to consolidate rapidly as the number of viable vendors shrinks," says Michael Barnes, senior program director with META Group's Application Delivery Strategies service. "Global 2000 organizations should continue ramping up internal expertise via proof-of-concept and limited-scope initiatives, but application server product choices should be re-evaluated during the next three to six months given ongoing consolidation. Making well-educated and well-documented decisions is critical."

METAspectrum, a new methodology designed to help IT executives navigate the changing IT vendor landscape, has been hailed in user demonstrations as the industry's most rigorous approach for assessing IT software, hardware, and service markets. J2EE is a closely managed collection of standards (including Java Server Pages, Servlets, and Enterprise JavaBeans) under control of the Java Community Process. An application server must be able to host Web services and components, providing the ability to deploy and manage components, users, and servers. Java is the development language for these. Products evaluated in this space have either passed the Java test matrix or are in the process of being certified as J2EE compliant.

Key Findings:

- Success in the J2EE application server market is dependent on the vendor's combination of performance and presence. Moving forward, dependency between these two areas will increase, particularly as the number of vendors with significant presence decreases.

- Although support for enhanced development productivity and application frameworks/patterns will remain core differentiators for the next two to three years, the broader technical capabilities among platforms are moving toward relative parity.

- Companies selecting platforms should weigh market presence and vendor viability more heavily than technical capability -- to reflect the relative importance enterprise customers place on presence when selecting a strategic supplier.

- As vendors continue to leapfrog one another in technological prowess, users are more concerned with providers' long-term commitment to the market and their ability to adequately service and support products on a global scale.

- Although many corporations have selected Java as a strategic platform for enterprise development, adoption has been hampered by J2EE's complexity -- the principal competition to J2EE servers will remain the Microsoft .Net platform for the next 18 months.

About METAspectrum(SM)

METAspectrum evaluations from META Group provide IT professionals with a view into critical market success factors and vendor positioning. METAspectrum, in combination with META Group's SPEX modules -- which provide detailed technical analysis of product features and capabilities -- delivers comprehensive evaluations of both technology markets and vendor product offerings. There are multiple market evaluations planned for release in 2002. METAspectrum evaluations are a standard component of a META Group retainer service subscription and are updated quarterly, biannually, or annually, depending on the characteristics of individual markets. To learn more about the METAspectrum methodology, visit www.metagroup.com/metaspectrum or call (800) 945-META. For more information on META Group's SPEX offerings, visit www.checkspex.com.

Note: Members of the press interested in receiving more information on this market should contact Samantha Finnegan at (303) 346-3176 or samantha.finnegan@metagroup.com.

About META Group

META Group is a leading research and consulting firm, focusing on information technology and business transformation strategies. Delivering objective, consistent, and actionable guidance, META Group enables organizations to innovate more rapidly and effectively. Our unique collaborative models help clients succeed by building speed, agility, and value into their IT and business systems and processes. Connect with www.metagroup.com for more details.