Web services refer to applications or processes that use the
internet to link activities or software components. Multiple
systems can communicate via the internet, provided standards are
followed.
The new standard, known as WS-Addressing, is designed to allow
organisations to build reliable and interoperable web service
applications by setting out a standard method of expressing where a
message should be delivered in a web services network.
Until now most on-line applications have been unable to talk to
each other, slowing down the expected boom in web services.
The new framework should allow developers to simplify web
services communication and development, and avoid the need for
costly ad hoc solutions that are difficult to apply across
platforms.
WS-Addressing was submitted to the W3C by industry leaders BEA
Systems, IBM, Microsoft, SAP and Sun Microsystems. It represents
the first time that Sun has joined in a submission with Microsoft
and follows the settlement of a bitter antitrust dispute between
the two rivals in April.
