BEA knocks IBM's WebSphere

BEA Systems has hit back at arch-rival IBM's latest application server offering, calling the WebSphere solution a "bagful of bits" made up of different technologies.

The comments follow the launch yesterday of IBM's latest version of its WebSphere platform which boasts full integration with the latest web services standards as well as improved developer tools.

The jewel in the crown of IBM's WebSphere solution is its application server, the software platform for integrating disparate applications, and the foundation of web services deployments.

However, it is in a vicious battle with BEA for top spot in this market, with the latest research from the Butler Group putting the two companies neck and neck, each with 34 per cent market share.

BEA UK's senior architect Ian Doyle said the announcement represented nothing new from IBM: "It's just a continuation of their approach to try and pull their products together into a consistent bundle.

"However, it doesn't work, because all their products are based on different technologies, so customers have to spend a significant amount on labour and consultants to get it implemented."

The application server market has ballooned in the last couple of years as IT managers increasingly use the software to web-enable legacy applications or provide a platform for J2EE web services.

Analysts see the market as too close to call between the two vendors.

Phil Dawson, senior research analyst at Meta Group, said IBM's product is just part of the process: "All of the J2EE crowd are adding to their products incrementally. The problem for them is how they differentiate themselves without adding proprietary technology which would end up fragmenting the market.

"The strength of the app server model is its interoperability, making it proprietary would play directly into Microsoft's hands."

Microsoft is the only significant web services player not to eschew the application server model, preferring its own .NET architecture.

Clive Longbottom, service director for analyst house Quocirca, echoed Dawson's comments: "In the short term both IBM and BEA will continue to do very well in this market, with Microsoft as the dark horse liable to throw a spanner in the works."

IBM was not available to comment on the story.