Members Approve Reference Model for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA-RM) as OASIS Standard

["Carol Geyer" <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org>]

Members Approve Reference Model for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA-RM) as
OASIS Standard  


Adobe Systems, AmSoft, Axway Software, BEA Systems, Boeing, Booz Allen
Hamilton, Capgemini, Fujitsu, General Motors, NEC, Reactivity, Software AG, and
Others Define Universal Framework for SOA

Boston, MA, USA; 23 October 2006 -- OASIS, the international standards
consortium, today announced that its members have approved the Reference Model
for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA-RM) version 1.0 as an OASIS Standard, a
status that signifies the highest level of ratification. SOA-RM provides an
abstract framework for understanding significant entities and their
relationships within a service-oriented environment. SOA-RM enables the
development of specific reference or concrete architectures using consistent
standards.

"SOA-RM is a true reference model, based on unifying concepts of SOA," noted
Lawrence Wilkes, analyst at Everware-CBDI. "This level of definition is much
needed by enterprise developers working on specific service-oriented
architectures."

"There are many different definitions of SOA being used in the marketplace
today," observed Duane Nickull of Adobe Systems, chair of the OASIS SOA-RM
Technical Committee. "By providing a clear, singular point of reference, the
SOA-RM enables even those with unique ideas about SOA to describe their work in
quantifiable terms that can be commonly understood."

SOA-RM is not directly tied to any specific Web services standards,
technologies, or other concrete implementation details. Instead, it offers
common semantics that can be used unambiguously across and between different
implementations.

"SOA-RM offers us a much-needed vocabulary for communicating an organization's
services architecture. It delivers a standard reference that will remain
relevant as a powerful model, useful across SOA deployments with evolving
technologies," said Patrick Gannon, president and CEO of OASIS.

The Canadian Government, Capgemini, and Adobe Systems have all verified
successful implementations of SOA-RM (in keeping with the consortium's
requirement that at least three parties assert successful implementation prior
to OASIS Standard balloting). 

"As a key education piece, SOA-RM brings clarity to definitions and significant
understanding to the concepts and associations typically used within any SOA,"
noted Wesley McGregor, senior advisor for the Treasury Board of Canada. "SOA-RM
is a solid model from which the Canadian Federal Government derives useful
reference architectures."

Participation in the OASIS SOA-RM Technical Committee remains open to all;
suppliers, end-users and system integrators are invited to join OASIS to
advance the continued development and use of SOA-RM. OASIS hosts an open mail
list for public comment and the soa-rm-dev mailing list for exchanging
information on implementing the standard.


Support for SOA-RM

Booz Allen Hamilton
"The approval of the SOA Reference Model is a significant step forward in
enabling increased SOA interoperability and service re-use within and between
organizations that adopt SOA. The SOA Reference Model provides SOA adopters
with a set of core concepts that can be used to increase consistency and
interoperability across and between different implementations. We expect
several OASIS Technical Committees to utilize SOA-RM to their benefit, and we
look forward to leveraging SOA-RM in our client solutions," said William
Barnhill, Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton and a member of the OASIS Technical
Advisory Board. 

Capgemini
"Capgemini are firm believers that SOA is a change not just of technology but
of business thinking and approach, this move towards more dynamic and flexible
systems represents an end to the traditional 'business as usual' spending model
of IT. We are delighted to have been involved in the creation of the OASIS SOA
Reference Model and are already using it on several of our engagements," said
Andy Mulholland, Global CTO, Capgemini.



Additional information:

OASIS SOA-RM Technical Committee:
http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/soa-rm

Cover Pages Technology Report:
http://xml.coverpages.org/soa.html


About OASIS:

OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) is
a not-for-profit, international consortium that drives the development,
convergence, and adoption of e-business standards. Members themselves set the
OASIS technical agenda, using a lightweight, open process expressly designed to
promote industry consensus and unite disparate efforts. The consortium produces
open standards for Web services, security, e-business, and standardization
efforts in the public sector and for application-specific markets. Founded in
1993, OASIS has more than 5,000 participants representing over 600
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Press contact:
Carol Geyer
OASIS Director of Communications
carol.geyer@oasis-open.org
+1.978.667.5115 x209 (office)
+1.941.284.0403 (mobile)

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