Challengers forge into open-source integration
JBoss and LogicBlaze assemble integration-related software to take on incumbents in integration middleware.
JBoss, which sells support services for a popular open-source Java application server, on Tuesday detailed a project called JBoss Messaging. The product, which is designed to reliably send messages between different machines, conforms to the Java Messaging Service version 1.1.
The company said that the JBoss Messaging software will be built into JBoss Application Server 5.0 and JBoss ESB 1.0, both of which are scheduled for completion later in the year.
Although definitions vary, an ESB (enterprise service bus) is standards-based server software that moves data between applications and provides some data reformatting and management functions. For example, a company can use an ESB to send a purchase order from its order management application and change the document format so that its financial application can "read" the data.
On Monday, start-up LogicBlaze also took aim at the integration software market with the release of a package of open-source software from the Apache Foundation.
The company's LogicBlaze Fuse bundle combines products in the "incubation," or proposal, phase at Apache, including the ActiveMQ messaging software and the ServiceMix ESB product, which complies with the Java Business Integration standard. Also included is another proposed project called
LogicBlaze's strategy is to undercut entrenched integration software providers, such as IBM and BEA Systems, with open-source products, said LogicBlaze CEO Winston Damarillo.
The company will charge either $5,000 or $10,000 per server per year, depending on the level of service, for ongoing support and software updates, he said.