Java and .Net, most preferable choice for Web services

Research firm Radicati Group, Inc. sees a major boost in adoption of Web services amongst enterprises in the coming three to four years. A senior analyst, Masha Khmartseva with Radicati Group expects the market to reach $950 million by the end of 2004 and $6.2 billion by 2008. These figures are a combined total of money that will be spent on Web services creation, management, integration and security products, informed an online report.

Khmartseva opined that enterprises should realize the power of Web services and the time they would save on application development using the drag-and-drop features offered by various Web services development tools, available in the market. Leading vendors like Microsoft, Orcale, Sun, IBM are investing heavily to increase awareness about this technology among enterprises, Khmartseva informed.

The adoption of Web services has been rather slow because lack of awareness of business and technology benefits that it can deliver. Some companies have security concerns in mind and feel that security standards need to mature before high-volume Web services transactions can be securely carried out. While there are few others who are not sure of it's utility or are unable to decide which platform to choose.

Khmartseva is of the opinion that these standards will evolve over the next two years enabling a better penetration of technology. OASIS' recent ratification of WS-Security and other security specifications like WS-Trust, WS-SecureConversation, WS-Policy and WS-Federation will also enhance trust in Web services transactions.

Currently most Web services are being built on Microsoft's .Net platform or J2EE and they will be the platforms of choice in the times to come. Most of the spending boost is expected between now and 2008, opined Khmartseva.