Web services for the confused

A free guide to web services has been written to help tackle the practical and technical problems a company might face trying to roll out a web services program.

Written by Quocirca analyst Clive Longbottom, the handbook explains what web services can and cannot offer the enterprise, and whether they should be taken seriously.

It suggests various roll-out plans and what businesses should really be looking for in a web service.

Longbottom said that many different views were being expressed by vendors as to whose offerings of technology and strategy is the right choice.

"This guide is only about the technology - not the products - and to that end, we feel that businesses confused by web services will now be able to improve their understanding and judge whether or not the technology fits in today's or tomorrow's IT strategy for their company," he said.

The guide, Practical Approaches to the use of Web Services, is backed by ebusiness company Attachmate. Michael Jensen, area director for Attachmate, said that the handbook "provides a strategic insight into the areas businesses care about most - cost and competitive advantage".

It is available on the Attachmate website, here.