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February 20, 2004 | Comments: (0)

Because they can...

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Microsoft this week proposed another Web services specification for industry adoption, WS-Discovery, and Sun Microsystems again accused Microsoft of trying to ram its own proposals down everyone's throat.

Yes, Microsoft can seem a bit overbearing by putting out specifications for the industry without first going to an industry standards body.

So why does Microsoft engage in this surly behavior? The answer is similar to why the New York Yankees buy up whatever players the team wants: Because they can.

Microsoft is using its power to try to set the industry on a course in Web services that has Microsoft leading the pack. WS-Discovery is intended to extend Web services to devices. Sun says its JXTA technology already has addressed this need.

Previously, Sun has accused Microsoft of trying to impose Web services specifications such as BPEL4WS (Business Process Execution Language for Web Services) on the industry. That proposal from Microsoft, IBM and BEA gathered steam while a similar Sun plan, Web Services Choreography Interface (WSCI), withered.

Like it or not for Sun, Microsoft has the mass to lead in areas where it wants to, such as Web services. Microsoft says it does plan to eventually bring WS-Discovery to an industry standards group for its consideration.

Sun, though, will have to realize why Microsoft officials grab the steering wheel in efforts like this: Because they can.

Posted by Paul Krill on February 20, 2004 01:33 PM

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