The emergence of key second-generation Web services standards has positioned service-oriented architecture (SOA) as the foremost platform for contemporary business automation solutions. This guide will help you dramatically reduce the risk, complexity and cost of integrating the many new concepts and technologies introduced by the SOA platform. It brings together the first comprehensive collection of field-proven strategies, guidelines and best practices for making the transition toward the service-oriented enterprise.

I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and coverage of the book. It provides process steps and best practice guidelines for integration and development of XML based web services. The book does not focus on tools like .NET or J2EE.

The book focuses on explaining the XML technologies involved in the full deployment of modern web-services in a business enterprise.

The book is divided into sections that explain integration from a technology, application, and enterprise perspective.The first part of the book gives a good high-level description of the new web services technologies and why they have been developed. It includes excellent diagrams of the transition from first generation to second-generation web-services.

This book is an important reference for those who are considering building a Service-Oriented Architecture.