09.28.05
Web services
Since I first started my venture journey in 1999, XML/web services technology has been a topic of interest and continues to be very hot topic today. It is less about web services per sa, one of the real benefits is on the ease of integration. It is actually funny to see how technology world keeps on reinvent itself. Integration moves from point-to-point CORBA/DCOM of the world, to application server/middleware, to a loosely coupled WS/SOA model or ESB (Enterprise Service Bus). I think the trend is right. WS is a much easier for integration, especially B2B space. But have all these upgrades really necessary to save customer money? maybe, but I am cautious when the technology innovation is done for the sake of technology. I guess that’s why it takes so long for the XML/Web service startups make real money. But I am glad web services finally come into the main stream of the CIO world. Infrastructure technology is not a fun space these days, even though it is a very cozy and familiar space for me. The startups are too many to list, so here are some from top of my head:
- Management: Actional/Westbridge, Amberpoint, Blue Titan, Infravio
- Integration: Cast Iron, IntaMission, Cordys, Polarlake, CapeClear
- XML Processing: Data Power, Conformative, Sarvega (now Intel), Xambala, Tarari
