From: "Adam Flinton" 

This is why:

"Sam Ruby, an IBM senior programmer, officer of Apache Software
Foundation, and one of the primary Axis developers, acknowledges the
benefits of an open-source methodology but notes that there were strategic
forces at work, too. "When SOAP was new," he says, "there
were concerns that Microsoft would co-opt the standard." By releasing
a highly compatible open-source implementation, IBM helped assure that SOAP
would remain neutral and that multiple implementations would thrive and
interoperate. Notable Axis adopters in 2002 included Macromedia, whose
ColdFusion MX made Web services accessible to CFML (ColdFusion Markup
Language) developers. Macromedia's Glen Daniels became a major contributor
to Axis, and Sam Ruby credits him with key architectural and performance
enhancements. Later in the year, Sonic Software joined the Axis project and
is now looking to weave asynchronous messaging capability into the engine.
It was a great year for Axis and another milestone for open source. "



It allows a number of companies (& interested individuals) to
contribute to a globally available "bucket" from which all are
able to draw water.



Adam

"Joe Barr"  wrote in message
news:3e3e8df5$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>
> http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/01/24/2002TOYopen_1.html
>
> --
>

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