In her article, "Why the IBM & Lotus Web Services Initiative Is Important to Customers," DeWitt offered the following example: "If Server 1 knows how to process foreign currency conversions and an application on Server 2 needs that particular functionality, then it would be beneficial to let Server 2 tap into the function on Server 1 rather than having the developer re-create that functionality on Server 2." So basically, Web services is an easier, more secure way to integrate applications that can be distributed over the Internet without having to write a custom interface for each application.

So now Palm is getting into the act, mobilizing the concept of Web services with the help of BEA Systems. Palm's new Reliable Transport technology is a core infrastructure component for the solution the companies are working together to develop. The idea is that Reliable Transport will provide a secure platform for sending XML data back and forth between the server and Palm handhelds. The solution will be designed in such a way that Palm developers can use BEA WebLogic Workshop as the server-side programming framework, while WebLogic Workshop developers utilize Reliable Transport to send messages to and from Palm handhelds.

Hopefully, with this solution in place, enterprise developers will be able to extend enterprise applications and data to Palm handhelds using Web services, and new types of Palm handheld applications will be created that can directly interface into complex, back-end business logic through the use of open-standards. The hope of both Palm and BEA is that by adopting and promoting open technology standards, they will help drive the adoption of full-scale mobile applications.

Michael Connick is a Senior Project Manager at BusinessEdge Solutions, Inc. He can be reached at mconnick@monmouth.com. You can also visit his Palm handheld oriented Web site at http://www.monmouth.com/~mconnick/palm.htm.