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Microsoft Joins Standards Effort on Ubiquitous Messaging

Microsoft will join a working group to support an open standard for multiplatform messaging in the enterprise, according to a company statement issued this week.

Redmond joins the Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) Working Group, a collaborative effort developing specifications for interoperable messaging middleware at the application layer.

The AMQP's message-oriented middleware specification is being driven by financial services industries. However, it is expected to benefit other industries as well, including insurance and healthcare, or other organizations where enabling ubiquitous messaging is a priority.

Microsoft's commitment is "another step toward AMQP becoming the preferred connectivity for business messaging on the Internet," according to Adrian Kunzle, head of engineering and architecture at J.P. Morgan, in a prepared statement.

The AMQP Working Group is a consortium of various enterprise technology stakeholders, including some Microsoft partners. AMQP players include companies such as Cisco Systems, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Borse Systems and Goldman Sachs, among others.

A new business messaging protocol developed by the group will "provide businesses with a simple and more powerful way of connecting messaging-dependent applications both within and between firms," according to Microsoft's announcement.

The AMQP model addresses server semantics for any server implementation. It will help vendors achieve interoperability via a "wire-level format with modern features," according to the AMQP's Website.

Microsoft was asked to join the AMQP by its current members, including Microsoft's customers in financial services, according to Redmond's statement.

About the Author

Herb Torrens is an award-winning freelance writer based in Southern California. He managed the MCSP program for a leading computer telephony integrator for more than five years and has worked with numerous solution providers including HP/Compaq, Nortel, and Microsoft in all forms of media. You can contact Herb at [email protected].