Web Services Explained, Solutions and Applications for the Real World
The trade press and some Web sites portray the forthcoming move to a Web services model of application development and deployment as a "battle" between vendors usually between Microsoft (with its C# development language and .NET application development environment) and Sun™ (with its Java™ platform/language basis). But Web services has more to do with creating applications compatibility between vendors than it does with whether Microsoft will dominate Sun (or any other vendor) on the basis of development-language choice. Remember this: if vendors do not focus on interoperability and compatibility between their respective Web services platforms, then the whole concept of Web services program-to-program communications will not work.
Instead of just a battle between Java platform supporters and Microsoft .NET platform supporters, the forthcoming Web services competition will be based on other factors, including:
The fullness of a particular vendor's support for Web services standards. The vendors that offer the richest support for evolved Web services standards will win more business.
Ease of development and deployment. The companies that create the easiest ways to build and deploy Web services-based applications will obtain the largest market share. To win in Web services, a supplier has to offer a richly integrated platform that has a good selection of developmental tools, optimized hardware, and value-added extensions (such as wireless device support or personalization). Conversely, the companies that offer the least amount of compatibility with Web services standards and the poorest toolsets for implementing those standards will most likely garner the least market share.
Services. Several professional services firms are already building Web services expertise in order to assist enterprises in building Web services-based applications. And many ASPs also recognize that a significant revenue opportunity exists for those who develop and host Web services type applications.
The "big winners" among vendors of platforms and tools will be those who make it easy to develop Web services applications, incorporate other value-added software (such as personalization, security, or business process management) and who either directly or through business partnerships offer professional design, develop, and deployment services.
The final third of this book is dedicated to describing the various Web service product offerings of the leading competitors in the Web services market. Readers will see that Web services involves a lot more than just adherence to certain Web services protocol and registry standards it involves the creation of entire, integrated product suites that make it easier for application developers to build and deploy highly functional Web services-based solutions.