Stories by Brian Fonseca and Ed Scannell

WS-Security specs make their debut

Holding true to its self-anointed mission to enable secure Web services between applications, organizations, and end-users, IBM Corp. and Microsoft Corp. joined a few partners on Tuesday to announce the publishing of the first in a set of planned WS-Security specifications.

Sun, HP strengthen services

Archrivals Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard are deepening their respective strategic commitments to managed services, with Sun promising to tie services tighter to core products and Hewlett-Packard Co. cementing its plans in managed services, citing its recent merger with Compaq Computer Corp. as a major reason.

Microsoft partners extend .Net reach

Eager to embed its .Net environment in enterprise application deployments, Microsoft is working to give companies the ability to transform and manage internal Windows-based apps as .Net-enabled Web services.

IBM, Verisign edge toward security pact

In a major endorsement of security across its wares, IBM Corp. is working with VeriSign Inc. on a joint product development and sales deal that would marry VeriSign's authentication and payment services technology to Big Blue's hardware and application might, industry sources tell InfoWorld.