It may sound odd to assert that Microsoft might have something to prove in the world of software, but in the case of service-oriented architecture it may be true. This week we at SearchWebServices.com will be looking into some of the latest analyst research that suggests Microsoft's .NET initiative is lagging behind Java when it comes to SOA development.

Java tends to benefit from having multiple big backers pushing it forward as well as major open source foundations like Eclipse and Apache. There's always something new popping up in the Java universe like Spring Web services or BPEL4People. If you're pursuing SOA, the news coming out of the Java camp is constant. The barrage is impossible to ignore.

Not surprisingly, Sun Microsystems has been able to ride the Java-based SOA wave to boost its standing in the software community. Seemingly it is a tide that lifts all boats.