Embedded cloud computing and mobile applications IBM set the universe for next-generation SOA

Today, as cloud computing has swept through the headlines, SOA, the same technology that once weathered the cloud, has been gradually forgotten by the media. But this does not mean that SOA has vanished and perished, but instead it has moved from a conceptual hype to a landing and implementation phase. And, with the spread of cloud computing, mobile connectivity and IoT technology, SOA has been given a richer and more important meaning.

A few days ago, the annual IBM IMPACT2012 Summit Forum held in Beijing. On the forum, IBM has identified the direction of "next-generation SOA", advocating the integration of new trends in cloud computing and enterprise mobility into the roadmap for future development of the enterprise SOA.

"After years of development and practice, the concept of SOA has been recognized by global users, including the vast majority of Chinese enterprises," said Xugang, general manager of the IBM Software group, the Greater China region. IBM believes that, in the current emerging technology, SOA is not only not outdated, but with the cloud computing, mobile and the popularity of Internet technology, has been given a richer and important significance. ”

The implication is that traditional SOA focuses on the integration of enterprise internal information systems and applications, while the next generation of SOA extends from within the enterprise to the outside, from the technical architecture to the business level.

"As a result, the integration of cloud computing, mobile technology, and innovative WebSphere and BPM applications provide a broader perspective for the next generation of SOA and the innovation of service delivery models." Xugang again emphasizes the meaning of SOA.

SOA meets cloud Computing

Today, as cloud computing becomes hot, companies want to bypass SOA and use cloud computing to build the infrastructure of information infrastructures.

But Lincicome, an internationally renowned cloud computing and SOA expert, points out that while cloud computing and SOA are different concepts, they are interconnected. SOA is an architectural pattern, and cloud computing is an example of architecture. SOA is more holistic and strategic, and it addresses the entire enterprise architecture, including business drivers. While cloud computing is more tactical, it is a way to solve problems. They are tightly linked to address enterprise-level issues. It is difficult to take one and give the second.

Xugang the same view at the Impact 2012 Forum: "The Rise of cloud computing, corporate mobility, large data and social commerce has opened up exciting new markets for businesses, and has made the world's IT environment ever more complex, creating new challenges for enterprise IT architecture." The middleware products represented by WebSphere will play a more important role in the process of IT architecture construction. ”

WebSphere is the representative product of the SOA market. Since the launch of WebSphere Creator Server in 1998, WebSphere has been established as an important part of the middleware arena, and WebSphere has played an important role in the development of E-commerce and the rise and spread of SOA architecture concepts.

It is worth mentioning that WebSphere helps IBM shift from a hardware-centric company to a business focused on solutions such as software and services, becoming the middleware market leader and the world's second largest software company. Over the years, many of WebSphere's products have provided customers with the ability to quickly build their application environments, to compute the virtualization and sharing of resources, to automate and optimize their operational environments, and to have numerous success stories and deployment experiences worldwide.

According to IBM's latest research report, "The Power of cloud computing: Driving business model innovation" shows that over the next three years, companies that use cloud computing to change existing business models will grow by more than one. To help businesses deploy cloud computing in a more efficient way, IBM has embedded the "cloud computing" label in WebSphere products, noting that this will be the direction of the next generation SOA.

Not long ago, IBM launched IBM Pureapplication System, a highly integrated software and hardware expert integrated cloud platform. Xugang said the system could support virtualization of cloud SOA, business processes, integration of open partner ecosystems, full cabinet delivery, one-stop service, and customer deployment of cloud computing step.

Embracing mobile apps

The significance of SOA is not only embodied in cloud computing, but also plays an important role in today's fast-growing mobile application market.

Many application developers face the same distress: because different operating systems cannot be compatible, they have to write different programs for the same application for different platforms, time-consuming, laborious, and less profitable.

Now they can finally get out of their misery, thanks to the launch of the IBM Worklight Development Kit. The IBM worklight development and integration tool will allow developers for the first time to develop mobile applications and their support architectures for a variety of platforms, running on any mobile platform, including Apple iOS, Google android,windows phone, and rim BlackBerry.

Mobile is a market that IBM attaches great importance to, together with cloud computing, large data by IBM put in the same strategic position. Prior to the acquisition of Worklight, IBM had acquired the world's leading terminal management and security management Enterprise BigFix and the renowned SaaS and cloud application integration provider cast iron.

Xugang points out that IBM is steadily increasing its commitment to mobile applications by building a complete portfolio of software and services to deliver enterprise-ready mobility to customers.

In addition to worklight development tools, IBM also introduced WebSphere Cast at this conference to help customers easily connect mobile applications to a variety of cloud and back-end systems, as well as IBM Endpoint Manager software, which allows users to purge enterprise data and applications from endpoints , which covers servers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets, as well as IBM Quick Win Pilot, which helps customers deploy mobile strategies.

To help enterprises cope with increasingly complex IT environments, IBM's "middleware" power, represented by WebSphere, is being integrated into the diversified needs of different industries, covering telecommunications, finance, government, healthcare, oil and energy, and logistics.

"IBM's main middleware product revenues amounted to $3.5 billion trillion in the first quarter of 2012, up 7% per cent from the same quarter of 2011," Xugang said. Among them, WebSphere series software products grew 16%. IBM will continue to rely on its advanced market experience and technology to help more enterprises achieve innovation, transformation and growth. ”

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)