WebServices.Org - The Web Services Community Portal - The 'big boys' unite forces - What does it mean for you? "Understandably, the question arises what has led IBM, Microsoft and BEA Systems to virtually ignore existing standards efforts, even those they have helped develop. In the first instance, one would have expected these vendors to work through existing bodies (where they have already membership status) to inject any superior concepts and drive the standards process forward in order to eliminate the need for later convergence." Article includes some useful speculation.