Microsoft vs Sun: web services war intensifies

A senior Microsoft executive has cast doubt on plans to include Sun Microsystems in an influential web standards body and questioned its commitment to interoperable XML.

Speaking exclusively to silicon.com, Charles Fitzgerald, global .Net platform strategy director at Microsoft, suggested that Sun may not be allowed on the board of the WS-I (Web Services Interoperability organisation) despite moves to include it.

The comments are part of a growing spat over Sun's admission to the WS-I. Sun claims the group, set up by Microsoft and IBM , has deliberately excluded Sun.

Last week, IBM tried to diffuse the situation by suggesting the selection of two more members to the board, the implication being that Sun would be one of them.

However, Microsoft's Fitzgerald told silicon.com that IBM's plan as outlined so far would not allow Sun's involvement.

He said: "IBM has not submitted any proposal, so we can't say anything definite. The one they talked about was not Sun's inclusion but rather a vote to elect two members from the membership."

Sun is not a member of the group, having refused standard membership as an insult to its lowly status.

Fitzgerald added: "If the board does decide to expand, Sun will have a tough time persuading the membership to elect them to the board when they haven't even joined the organisation."

Fitzgerald did not openly state that Microsoft would oppose a Sun bid to become part of the group, but his argument opens up an avenue for others to object to its bid.

He added: "While we have no opinion on IBM's yet-to-be submitted proposal, Sun needs to join WS-I and show they have some commitment to the interoperability of XML web services."

Microsoft's position puts it at odds with IBM. An IBM spokesman told silicon.com today: "IBM would be happy to have Sun on the board and be actively involved in WS-I activities to promote and advance web services."

The WS-I is charged with developing broad industry protocols for web services.

The technology is important because of its ability to affect the future of web services, and as an indication of how the major vendors are shaping up in this nascent market.

Sun was unavailable to comment on the story.