BizTalk: E-Commerce the Microsoft Way II (2/2) - exploring XML

BizTalk: E-Commerce the Microsoft Way II

BizTalk.org

Citing the Web site:

"The goal of BizTalk.org is to provide resources for learning about and using Extensible Markup Language (XML) for Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) and business-to-business (B2B) document exchange, both within the enterprise and over the Internet. On BizTalk.org you can learn how to use XML messages to integrate software applications and build new solutions. The design emphasis is to use XML to integrate your existing data models, solutions, and application infrastructure, and adapt them for electronic commerce. You can also learn about the BizTalk Framework, a set of guidelines for implementing an XML schema and a set of XML tags used in messages sent between applications."

The site is divided into four areas:

• Library: Search, download, and publish XML objects
  You can register at BizTalk.org to search for and download XML objects that have been submitted and cataloged in the library. You have to register as a contributor to publish your own objects to the library for others to evaluate and use.
• Community: Participate in BizTalk-related newsgroups
  Participate in online discussion groups to benefit from the knowledge of a large community of BizTalk users.
• News: Read the news about BizTalk-related technologies
  Follow the news within the software industry that relates to technologies and applications that support the BizTalk Framework and Server.
• Resources: Learn more about BizTalk Server
  Find information about BizTalk Framework and Server.

A fair number of schemas are published at the Web site, but little can be said over their actual usage. The discussion groups are quite lively but don't measure up to high-volume newsgroups such as comp.text.xml. The news listed on the site also assumes a modest pace of adoption.

Conclusion

Microsoft approaches the challenge of e-commerce from the well-known angle of a software company: Provide the platform by defining the framework and delivering the implementation, and leave the business specifics to the participating parties. The popularity of BizTalk.org will decide how successful that strategy will be.

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Produced by Michael Claßen

URL: https://www.webreference.com/xml/column48/2.html
Created: Jan 21, 2002
Revised: Jan 21, 2002