Six months after signing a 10-year strategic partnership
with Microsoft, the London Borough of Newham is using a
Microsoft-based portal to help local authorities share
software.
Richard Steel, head of ICT at Newham Council, said the Open
Application Sharing Portal (OAS), is being used to share software
connectors to simplify links to back-office council systems.
"We have also developed adaptors with Microsoft's help to link via
Biztalk to the Local Land and Property Gazetteer, and we are
working on a few other systems such as housing and social services,
which will be available through the OAS," he said.
By sharing software via the portal, Steel hopes to reduce the risk
of using pioneering technology. There is also a financial benefit.
"Other local authorities' investments can help with the cost of
developing software for the portal," said Steel.
Microsoft is working with Newham Council to develop further
adaptors for OAS.
- The Royal Borough of Kingston is offering its e-payment system
using Microsoft's .net framework and Commerce Server 2002 through
the OAS. System integrators Ciber UK has worked with Kingston to
develop schemas, templates and integration tools.