IBM Unveils New WebSphere Software

Looking to build on WebSphere’s momentum, IBM Corp.
announced a series of new products to allow enterprises to link their
business processes tighter together.

IBM rolled out industry-specific software for linking business processes
through WebSphere Business Integration. Designed for the auto, electronics,
insurance, retail, and telecom industries, the software allows companies to
integrate their core processes and interact with other businesses’ systems.

“The value we are bringing to our customers is speed of deployment to
address the most critical integration needs of their industry,” Ambuj Goyal,
a general manager of solutions and strategy in IBM’s software group, said in
a statement. “Our commitment to deliver value is based on WebSphere’s proven
integration technology, our leadership in Web services, and the ability to
leverage a customer’s application software investments.”

The new package includes WebSphere Business Integration for Financial
Markets, which allows financial institutions to integrate processes between
financial institutions for settling stock trades across international
borders.

In addition, IBM announced a B2B product, WebSphere Business Connection,
which enables companies to link their IT systems with partners. The software
can be used for a variety of collaboration, including supply-chain
integration automation and online procurement.

Big Blue also announced the rollout of new software tools that extend the
WebSphere Studio suite of development products. The company said the new
tools would help enterprises integrate tools to cut development costs.

The tools are based on the Eclipse open-source platform, which allows
developers to create one tool set to work across different environments.
Eclipse is an
IBM-led consortium of tool vendors that develops a standard for tool
integration.

The new additions to the WebSphere Studio include tools for Lotus Domino,
CrossWorlds, DB2, Tivoli, MQ, IBM eServer iSeries, WebSphere Business
Components Composer, and WebSphere Commerce.

Last month, IBM got a shot in the arm when research by Gartner Group and IDC
found WebSphere in a virtual dead
heat with the application server market’s longtime leader, BEA’s
WebLogic.