Microsoft versus IBM and Sun

NEWS Microsoft has refused to quash rumours it is barring the inclusion of Sun Microsystems in a high-profile body charged with driving forward standards for web services. In an about-turn, IBM said last week it will back the creation of two more board members for the Web Services Interoperability Organisation (WS-I) after Sun cried foul over its exclusion. However, Microsoft, which founded the group with IBM, has today refused to comment on whether or not it backs the decision. There is much suspicion that Microsoft is against the move because it will give Sun's Java-based web services vision a much more influential position. The move by IBM follows high-level criticism of the WS-I group from Sun's chief technology evangelist, Simon Phipps. He said Microsoft and IBM were deliberately trying to exclude Sun from the standards body in an attempt to marginalise its web services technology. Sun originally refused the offer of a standard member position because it said it deserved a bigger role. IBM last week responded by saying it will propose that two more board members should be elected to the WS-I. However, it has not spelled out exactly how this will work. There has been some speculation that the appointment will only be for a two-year tenure. A source inside Sun today said this would not satisfy it, as it is looking for full membership. Sun could not be reached for further comment on the subject today. Membership of the WS-I group is important for Sun because it will dictate many of the standards around which web services will grow. Standards are vital to the growth of web services because the technology vision is being sold around the ability of different systems to interoperate. IBM is happy to let Sun in because it also relies heavily on the Java-based vision of web services. Clive Longbottom, director for analyst house Quocirca, said the wrangling proved that even in the "open" world of web-services, the vendors are still trying to use their muscle to gain advantage. He added: "This is the problem when standards groups are run by vendors. This squabbling will undoubtedly slow down the adoption of standards - luckily others, such as WSDL already have strong industry approval."