RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- June 23, 2004 -- Today, StrikeIron(TM), Inc., unveiled a revolutionary online solution that makes it easier and faster to work with Web services, the StrikeIron Web Services Business Network(TM) (WSBizNet)(TM).
This "software-as-a-service" is an online Web services network that provides an integrated set of services and graphical tools for working with and publishing Web services. New integrated, graphical visualization capabilities combined with the power of dynamic invocation technology essentially liberates the user from the technical intricacies of Web services.
The results are an easier and faster understanding of a Web service with no additional software or time consuming programming or compiling. More developers and business users can now take advantage of Web services and providers of Web services can more easily publish and sell their Web services to new markets.
"The StrikeIron WSBizNet is a breakthrough in offering easier-to-use solutions for discovering, utilizing and publishing Web services," said Richard Holcomb, Chairman and CEO of StrikeIron. "Just as Web services will change how software is developed, WSBizNet will change the way we work with Web services."
Innovation Enabling a Broader Market
Developers can accelerate their SOA development and reduce their maintenance costs with new visual tools and dynamic invocation technology. Business analysts can easily access and integrate real-time, on-demand information such as financial, company and government data. CIOs and IT managers have a faster and lower cost solution to organize and implement their Web services infrastructure. Web Services Providers have a new channel for the commercialization and promotion of their own Web services to reach more potential users.
"StrikeIron's innovations are targeted at enabling a much broader market to take advantage of Web services," said Sandra Rogers, IDC's Director of Web Services and Integration Software. "WSBizNet is the type of solution that can facilitate faster adoption of Web services."
Easier, Integrated Solution
Using the WSBizNet is easy. Start by searching one of the most comprehensive Web services directories available, the Web Services Business Directory. Gain additional descriptive information from the integrated Web Services Knowledge Base, use the integrated Analyzer to graphically display how the Web service is designed, how the operations can be accessed, and what inputs are required, and then view the results in a familiar tabular format. With only a few clicks of the mouse, graphically view the performance history of a Web service and set up additional monitoring with alerts.
Users can also subscribe to StrikeIron Premium Web Services for a higher level of trust, reliability and security, establish Private Directories of Web services for controlled access, outsource Web Services Hosting, and download Premium Products with enhanced productivity capabilities for development. Web Service Providers can publish their Web services for free public consumption or as a subscription-based Premium Web Service.
StrikeIron Web Services Business Network
-- Web Services Business Directory -Search one of the most comprehensive Web services directories on the Internet. The search results are presented with easy to understand graphics with integrated access to visual tools for easier and faster understanding of a Web service.
-- Premium Web Services - Subscribe to Web services that are provided by StrikeIron and its partners such as DataFlux/SAS. Premium Web Services are the best source of trusted, reliable and secure Web services for business applications. For owners of Web services, StrikeIron provides a complete commercialization package including custom pricing, billing, payment, tracking, reporting, and promotional marketing and sales. New Premium Web Services are being added every week.
-- Private Web Services Directories - Control access to a Web service through an easier, low cost central location for distributing and managing the service.
-- Web Services Knowledge Base - Access an integrated tool that makes it easier and faster to understand a Web service by describing how it works and providing sample inputs and outputs. Users are invited to submit free Knowledge Base entries through an innovative self-service entry form.
-- Analyzer Online Edition -Quickly understand a Web service without knowing code or needing additional software with this free, point and click online tool. The structure, operations and parameters are displayed in an easy to use graphical tree format and the outputs in a familiar tabular format.
-- Web Services Monitoring - Receive availability and performance alerts to ensure that a Web service is up and running. This service is free for owners of a Web service and a low cost subscription for all others.
-- Web Services Hosting - Host and manage a Web service's executable code on our secure servers for a complete outsourced Web services organization and infrastructure solution at a lower cost and with less risk than traditional methods.
-- Professional Services - Web services and SOA development, certification and consulting.
Pricing and Availability
The WSBizNet is currently available at www.strikeiron.com. Standard services are free and include searching the Business Directory and use of the online Analyzer, Knowledge Base, and Performance Graphing. Pricing is subscription based for Premium Web Services, Monitoring, Private Directories, Hosting and Premium Products.
About StrikeIron
StrikeIron, Inc. is a pioneer in providing software and services for a new level of ease of use and productivity for organizations that are taking advantage of Web services and implementing Service-Oriented Architectures. Based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, the company was founded by a trio of veteran entrepreneurs in building innovative and successful technology companies. The Aurora Funds, Inc. provided seed money for StrikeIron after recognizing the significant opportunity presented by Web services and this unique management team. For more information, visit us at www.strikeiron.com.
