News
BizTalk Server 2000 Leverages XML, SOAP
- By Scott Bekker
- September 26, 2000
BizTalk Server 2000 is Microsoft's entrée into e-business
community infrastructure with a tool that manages business processes via
Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).
The server utilizes these standards to facilitate business
document interchange among applications. In short, business can automate the
routing of purchase orders and invoices in a web-based environment, sharing
data with other e-Business back-end systems or across the Internet. This makes
the product a natural precursor to Microsoft's move toward .NET.
BizTalk Server provides the means for the routing and
delivery of business documents in EDI and flat files as well as XML,
deliverable by traditional Internet protocols, such as HTTP, FTP, and SMTP.
Documents are encrypted or otherwise protected by digital signatures. Mapping and editing tools are provided, and
the system is compliant with a variety of Windows-based content management
tools on the market.
This is a new ballgame for Microsoft, taking full advantage
of the burgeoning XML phenomenon. It's been in development for more than a
year. Schema libraries and tools have
been up on the web for some time to enable businesses to pave the way for
making use of this technology. – Ted Williams
For Microsoft’s overview, see www.microsoft.com/biztalkserver.
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.