Informatica, an independent provider of enterprise data integration software, has launched an open and free community SOA Data Integration Architect Community (SDIAC), focused on the value of data integration and data services in architectures such as service oriented architectures (SOA).

According to Informatica, the SDIAC provides a forum for key players and partners such as enterprise architects, application architects, solution architects, IT architects and IT managers with enterprise architecture stakes and responsibilities.

In addition, the SDIAC provides an open social networking environment for architects to interact with peers and thought-leaders; share challenges, innovations and best practices; and showcase successes relating to data integration and data services within agile architectures.

The SDIAC is co-chaired by author and industry expert David Linthicum, who will help lead the community in conjunction with a charter group of architects and other experts, all of whom possess real-world experience with SOA and enterprise, application and data integration, Informatica said.

James Markarian, senior vice president and general manager of enterprise data integration at Informatica, said: “By helping launch the world’s first open community on SOA data integration and architecture, Informatica is providing architects with the framework they need to effectively communicate, collaborate and share their real-world experiences and best practices.”