What is SOA Anyway?
Over the past year, more and more companies are investigating the benefits of service-oriented architecture (SOA). The enterprise model seamlessly integrates different applications across a single platform using XML-based Web services. Essentially, SOA enables an enterprise to communicate across various silos, from human resources to accounting, using the same language and multiple applications. The creation and management of IT systems through reusable software and services has resulted in a quick implementation and ROI for organizations? transition to an SOA.
But what does SOA have to do with your communications?
Companies must adapt their communications system to match the growing convergence of data and voice across the entire enterprise as platforms are enabling the interaction of all applications, which result in faster and more accurate communication. And while exploring the options for convergence, companies should also consider the benefits of linking communications to the enterprise under the SOA framework. An IP telephony system that operates on open platforms will allow call-control, processing and messaging, as well as applications and gateway functions to run on Web services, similar to the rest of the enterprise. This will allow the organization?s network to decentralize and become more flexible by eliminating redundancies. Some software applications also integrate legacy voice equipment via XML.
The SOA approach can manipulate VoIP into a network service or application, providing extended services. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is the backbone of VoIP. The development of SIP in an SOA environment will help reduce the complexity of SOA as it expands to include voice, video and instant messaging, and creates improved security and a default user registry.
Interop, the biggest IT trade show in North America, also saw increased interest in the benefits of VoIP enabled by SOA, at its 2006 conference in Las Vegas in early May. In fact, at this year?s Interop, Siemens announced the introduction of an SOA standard and Web-services interface for communications applications after a two-year R&D effort.
Also at the show, Avaya, the official network provider of the expo, delivered a panel discussion on how the company will use the SOA technology platform to build future applications. The panel discussed how SOA delivers unique value to enterprises by optimizing business process automation and by expediting exception-based activities through improved communication flow.
Oracle has also invested in SOA. In April 2006, the company announced plans for a telecommunications service delivery platform (SDP), which is designed for carriers, network operators and systems integrations to help move to SOA. The goal of the completed project is to provide a single programming environment to assist developers to deploy new services quickly and manage them with existing services.
Overall, the future of IP networks will include the integration of all forms of the business across IT, resulting in more efficient and lean companies. By coordinating IP and SOA efforts, businesses will find a more wide-ranging network with expanded communications applications for increased security and process improvement. Organizations investing in IP and SOA will not only develop a more cohesive network, but will also gain a larger competitive advantage.
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