Microsoft is operating in a different SOA world from other major software vendors, such as IBM, BEA Systems Inc. and the newly conglomerated webMethods/Software AG, analysts say.
"They've always been kind of a different company, and they're staying true to that," said Bradley F. Shimmin, principal analyst of application infrastructure for Current Analysis, who recently met with Microsoft to discuss their approach to SOA.
"Microsoft tends to market things very differently," said Ron Schmelzer, senior analyst with ZapThink LLC., who is researching Microsoft's approach to SOA. "They never have things that are in the same product categories as everybody else.
