The online directory that some claim will make Web services a reality went live this week with backing from corporate heavyweights as well as startup companies. The trio of vendors put out a trial version of UDDI in November and has now released the first fully operational version of the registry. Hewlett-Packard has also played a lead role in the project recently, taking on some of the responsibilities for maintaining the registry once held by Ariba. The UDDI registry promises to make it easier for businesses with a Web presence to provide information about their products and services and to locate partners and customers. A number of registries that use differing protocols exist on the Web today, but Microsoft, IBM, HP, and Ariba said they wanted to promote a common, shared set of identifiers.
Businesses can submit information about their operations to the registry without charge.
Without it, people are basically shooting in the dark. In order to get the network effect out of Web services, you need to have your services speak to others. Although Microsoft, Ariba, HP, and IBM lead UDDI's development, many other large companies are among the 260 vendors that have joined the project, which they claim could ease the way in which companies conduct business online. Focus on either Java or .NET, avoid a split. Build Web services based on specific business relationships.