The stage is being set for the adoption of the Java Business Integration (JBI) initiative. The spec will likely be released midyear, according to Java developers familiar with the project. JBI container and binding component support from vendors is expected to appear before the year ends. The spec's release will put an end to vendor discussions which have gone on for over two years.

JBI will bring with it a number of Java-based integration components, which will drive use of SOA solutions. Developers will not have to waste time interoperating container-based data and rules with outside resources.

The time, cost and complexities of interoperating (and integrating) container-based data and rules with outside resources, will be reduced. Integrations architects stand to gain a common way of plugging together best-of-breed integration components as services in a SOA.