Web Services Group Shows Off Apps Using Latest Specs

A vendor-backed group focusing on specifications to ensure interoperability among Web services on Wednesday showed off supply chain-related applications using the organization's latest technologies.

The Web Services Interoperability Organization demonstrated the implementations of the WS-I Basic Profile 1.0, a group of interoperability specifications released in August, at the XML Conference & Exposition 2003 in Philadelphia. Vendors participating in the "interoperability showcase" included BEA Systems, Bowstreet, Corillian, IBM, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle, Quovadx, SAP, and Sun Microsystems.

The demonstration presented a simplified supply-chain scenario modeling the interactions between multiple retail storefronts, warehouses, and manufacturers. The implementation is based on the WS-I Sample Application 1.0, a how-to for developers deploying the Basic Profile 1.0 specifications.

While the vendors aren't unveiling actual product, the implementations are important because they show the companies are moving forward in plans to support the group's work.

"The proof is in the pudding," said Ronald Schmelzer, an analyst at market researcher ZapThink. "These guys are all involved in the WS-I, and they have to prove that they are building systems that actually comply with the profile. This is the first step of proof that may not be in their products, yet."

The Basic Profile 1.0 published in the summer defines how developers should implement the core Web services standards of Soap 1.1, WSDL 1.1, UDDI 2.0, XML 1.0, and XML Schema.

Analysts have said that the profile is a good first step, but the group will have to work even harder at maintaining interoperability among future Web services specifications that will be released by various standards bodies, including the World Wide Web Consortium and Oasis. Those standards will address issues such as security and management.