InformationWeek

July 17, 2000

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IPlanet Makes Aggressive Move In Internet Integration

Platform relies on standards to let users connect Web applications and services

By Matthew G. Nelson

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year into its existence, iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions is ready to challenge more-seasoned players such as BEA Systems, IBM, and Oracle for dominance in the Internet integration market. The vendor, created from an alliance of Sun Microsystems, Netscape, and America Online, this week will unveil the iPlanet Internet Service Deployment platform, an architecture designed to let customers easily connect Web services and applications--both its own and those from other companies. About 20 system integrators and vendors have pledged their support for the platform.

Ease of integration and interoperability through the use of Java 2 Enterprise Edition, the Extensible Markup Language, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, and other standards are key to helping companies move at Internet speed, says Marge Breya, iPlanet's chief marketing officer. The platform consists of four subtiers of grouped iPlanet products: Unified User Management Services; Web, Applications, and Integration Services; Communications Services; and Portal Services. The Web, Applications, and Integration Services tier, for instance, includes iPlanet's Web Server, Application Server, B2B Integration, EAI Integration, and Business Process Automation applications. Most interoperability aspects of each tier are already in iPlanet products; other apps, such as instant messaging in the Communications Services tier, are in development.

Among the 20 companies that say they support the Internet Service Deployment platform are systems integrators Andersen Consulting, Deloitte Consulting, and PricewaterhouseCoopers; service providers EpicEdge and Global Commerce Systems; and independent software vendor Open Market.

AlphaDog Procurement Management Inc. says iPlanet is heading in the right direction. "When you look at E-commerce applications in a B-to-B environment, one of the significant accomplishments is being able to configure the workflow to meet each company's specific requirements," says Raj Rao, CIO and executive VP at the San Francisco provider of indirect cost procurement management. "This platform promises that."

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