IBM, HP Release Proposed Web Services Standard: Page 2 of 3

Although Microsoft and its partners are focused on a different set of priorities and products, analysts expected the technologies from the two camps to eventually be brought together into one specification.

"I don't believe we're going to see a battle here," Ron Schmelzer, analyst for high-tech researcher ZapThink LLC said.

Karla Norsworthy, director of e-business technology for IBM, confirmed that it was IBM's intent to eventually merge the specifications, although there isn't a timetable.

"We're quite confident that we can converge these technologies," Norsworthy said. "We can figure out how the Eventing specification fits into the larger picture that we're drawing. It may require some changes to both specifications, and we're anxious to roll up our sleeves and get to work."

In building WS-Notification, the companies incorporated integration with web services management technologies under development by OASIS, an international standards body, and standards under development by the Global Grid Forum, Norsworthy said.