Microsoft and webMethods Demonstrate Cross-Platform XML Support for BizTalk Framework

Strategic Insights -

Microsoft and webMethods are demonstrating cross-platform XML support for the BizTalk Framework at the Microsoft TechEd 99 Conference, showcasing the first such support for the framework. The demonstration highlights the exchange of business documents between trading partners running applications on different operating systems, including UNIX and Microsoft Windows 2000. The prototype features XML-based data exchange between a preliminary build of the Microsoft BizTalk Server and the webMethods B2B product, exchanging product data and purchase orders in a typical supply chain application.

Key Takeaways:

  • The demonstration showcases the first cross-platform XML support for the BizTalk Framework, enabling exchange of business documents between trading partners on different operating systems.
  • Microsoft and webMethods are working together to provide end-to-end integration with business partners, suppliers, and customers over the Internet, regardless of the computing platform.
  • The prototype uses the Commerce Interchange Pipeline (CIP), included with Site Server Commerce Edition 3.0, and the upcoming Microsoft BizTalk Server, to achieve connectivity.
  • webMethods is committed to providing full interoperability with the BizTalk Framework as it evolves, including support for XML-Data Reduced (XDR).
  • The BizTalk Framework is designed to enable information exchange between software applications and conduct business over the Internet with trading partners and customers.
  • Microsoft and other software companies will use the BizTalk Framework to produce XML schemas in a consistent manner, enabling integration across industries and between business systems.
  • webMethods is the leading vendor of cross-platform XML-based solutions for business-to-business integration, with award-winning products used by leading companies such as DHL Airways, Hewlett-Packard, and Cisco Systems.

Statistics:

  • 50: The number of privately held companies that webMethods was named as one of the top 50 in 1998 and 1999 by Red Herring.
  • 100: Microsoft's BizTalk Framework has been described as a initiative that will enable "end-to-end integration with their business partners, suppliers and customers over the Internet, irrespective of the computing platform they have chosen."
  • 1: The number of preliminary build of the Microsoft BizTalk Server that is being used in the demonstration.
  • March: The month in which the BizTalk Framework was introduced.

Sources:

  • http://www.biztalk.org/
  • http://www.microsoft.com/industry/biztalk/
  • http://www.webMethods.com
  • Red Herring's Top 50 Privately Held Companies
  • Upside Hot 100
  • TechEd 99 Conference