Casting a line for service providers
InfoWorld | at | by Mike
The rising tide of web services is leading to a battle among Microsoft's .Net framework, Sun's ONE (Open Net Environment) platform, and Linux for the allegiance and revenue from Web-hosting service providers. As part of its strategy, Microsoft is expected to continue developing tools for a service provider industry it views as a "great test bed" so it can gauge the application management, integration, and packaged value-add delivery nuances of Web services and .Net, according to Ted Chamberlin, a network analyst at Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner.
Microsoft's drive to draw the attention of Web-hosting giants has momentum. This week, Ensim, a hosting automation company, will introduce WEBppliance for Windows 3.0. Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft is endorsing the software appliance as a means to sell and support .Net-based Web hosting services to small and midsize businesses through telecommunication and service providers, said Andy Kim, vice president of marketing at Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Ensim.