News

Iona taps JBoss for new app server

• By Michael W. Bucken
• November 12, 2003

Iona this week tapped the open-source JBoss application server to gain an edge in efforts to provide its CORBA installed base with new integration technologies. In addition, the Dublin, Ireland-based firm brought out the Orbix Connect toolset for linking JBoss and other J2EE application servers with CORBA-based systems.

For JBoss, based in Atlanta, the agreement is part of a strategy to utilize resellers and partners to increase JBoss market share. Other partners signed up since late summer include WebMethods, Borland Software and Compuware.

Scott Devens, vice president of Iona's products business unit, told eADT that he expects JBoss to quickly make his firm a stronger competitor against J2EE app server leaders like BEA Systems and IBM. The open-source server immediately becomes Iona's primary J2EE offering, replacing Orbix, which will continue to be supported until 2008 but won't be upgraded to support J2EE 1.4, Devens said.

Devens said Iona has been searching for a replacement for the J2EE Orbix server for several months. "The Iona app server hasn't penetrated a real large market, so we looked for an alternative via a third party," he said. Devens said he turned to JBoss "after hearing a lot about them from customers. A lot of our customers are looking for cheaper [integration] solutions. This allows us to help."

The new Orbix Connect offering is described as a standards-based tool for seamless CORBA-to-J2EE connectivity. "We're focused on helping customers build out from CORBA," Devens said, noting that Iona has several "mainframe customers looking to extend to Web services." He said the new offering, priced at $5,000 and slated to ship by year's end, can help organizations to accomplish that goal.