New IBM Software for Service Oriented Architecture Marketplace
IBM today announced new software and services which it claims will enable customers to take advantage of the growing marketplace trend toward service oriented architecture (SOA). The new software and services are expected to address determining how to get into an SOA, avoiding additional costs, and ensuring that investments weather market and company changes.
"An SOA plays a strategic role in any company because it enables people to collaborate and innovate, identify new business opportunities, and move the customers' needs to the forefront," said Steve Mills, SVP and group executive, IBM Software Group.
IBM claims to have identified five entry points to enable customers to more easily approach and initiate an SOA project. The company also announced four new software releases targeted toward these SOA starting points and industry-specific models to support SOA:
WebSphere Portal version 6.0 integrating IBM Workplace and collaborative technologies, intended to make it easier for users to build and deploy composite applications tailored by industry, role, or task.
WebSphere Business Monitor version 6.0. The software, IBM claims, provides an aerial view of the business and enables customers to proactively identify potential issues before they impact productivity.
IBM Banking Information FrameWork and IBM Insurance Application Architecture models, which are intended to provide a set of critical processes, workflows, and activities to help reengineer business processes.
WebSphere Application Server version 6.1 and WebSphere Commerce version 6.0 to enable reuse and easier SOA management.
IBM also announced its SOA services. These services are expected to help customers with readiness, implementation, and management of an SOA.
