Abstract
In the world of business applications, standards-based efforts are gaining momentum. Web services implementations are growing as users migrate to the middleware that enables and simplifies Web application-to-application connectivity. In addition, users are warming to the idea of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) to connect applications across a network in a way that fosters code sharing and reuse.

The proponents of SOA claim that it brings great benefits to the enterprise: More resource sharing, fewer information silos and simpler structure. But if you are wondering just what exactly do we mean by SOA (Service Oriented Architecture); this column written by Shashank Tanksali, the SOA practice manager at Wipro Technologies, published in DMReview.com May 5, 2005 by the Integration Consortium, might just be what the doctor ordered.

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