IBM Corp has launched a business integration initiative centered around the company’s MQSeries messaging middleware. It announced a product family focused on tackling the problems of application and system integration, business automation and support. Poetically named IBM’s Business Integration with MQSeries, the new program adds two products to the original MQSeries software. It incorporates the MQSeries Integrator software, which boasts intelligent message routing that directs data according to condition preset by the user and message formatting that enables the exchange of information between applications. It contains pre-configured templates for major packaged applications and, IBM claims e-business extensions will also be available. The initial version of the software is available now and is being jointly marketed by IBM and partner New Era of Networks Inc. The third element of the initiative, like MQSeries itself, isn’t a new product either. MQSeries Workflow is essentially the next version of the company’s FlowMark workflow management product with a new name. It should ship by the third quarter of 1998. Services for the revamped MQSeries products will available through IBM Global Services and the company says it will provide partnering opportunities for ISVs and systems integrators to define interfaces, APIs tools and management functions.
