New Web services, which allow companies to build and link systems within and between organizations regardless of platform or location, are enabling companies to extend the value of their existing enterprise systems by improving interoperability and coordination. Beginning today at the Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) Technology Leadership Forum, “Web Services: The Next Technology Strategy,” more than 300 attendees will learn from industry pioneers and experts how to make the most of existing applications, which vendors to trust, and where to make Web services investments for the highest returns. The Forum, being held at The Phoenician Scottsdale, ends on February 5.

“Web services, which is based on the revolutionary XML technology, is the two-by-four of the software industry. For the first time, the entire industry has coalesced on a standard way for applications and platforms to work together,” said Ted Schadler, group director at Forrester. “Why are they doing this now? Because Internet technology makes it possible and technology users are demanding it.”

“Technology buyers must use small, innovative Web services vendors to complement their existing software infrastructure,” said Frank E. Gillett, senior analyst at Forrester. “Our user research into XML adoption leaves no doubt that Web services’ time is now.”

The Technology Leadership Forum will outline how companies can immediately start taking advantage of Web services, since every major software vendor is committed to the technology, and plans to release products this year. Leaders from vendor and user companies that are creating and deploying Web services will share ways to automate manual processes using XML technology.

Featured industry speakers include:

  • Greg Papadopoulos, Senior Vice President and CTO, Sun Microsystems
  • Rod A. Smith, President, Emerging Technologies, Software Group, IBM
  • John Shewchuk, .NET Architect, Microsoft
  • Richard Taggart, Director, Enterprise Technology Architecture Integration and Standards, General Motors
  • Phillip Merrick, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, webMethods
  • Dennis H. Jones, Vice Chairman, President, and COO, Commerce One
  • Roger Siboni, President and CEO, E.piphany
  • Lori Mitchell-Keller, Senior Vice President, Technology Strategy, Manugistics Group
  • John S. Leggatte, Group Vice President, Digital Business, BP
  • Stuart Kauffman, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Chairman, BiosGroup

    In addition to Schadler and Gillett, featured Forrester principal analysts include David Truog, Bob Chatham, and Bruce D. Temkin.