Microsoft has launched an initiative to encourage
developers to integrate existing business applications with its
Office environment.
The move to encourage the creation of “Office Business
Applications” is part of Microsoft’s push into the business
market.
It follows an joint initiative with SAP to make its data from
its enterprise software accessible through the Office suite and the
release of software giving access to Siebel customer information
platforms via the Outlook e-mail program.
A recent tie-up with Hyperion will also make the two firms’
business products interoperable.
Developers will be able to build Office Business Applications
using new services in Office 2007, covering workflow, search, a
Business Data Catalogue, Microsoft Office Open XML formats and the
platform’s website and security framework.
The software giant has also announced line-of-business
interoperability (LOBi) for SharePoint Server, a toolkit designed
to allow structured process integration with Office applications
and SharePoint Server 2007.
Microsoft will also release BizTalk Adapter Pack, a set of
application adapters to simplify the link-up between Office 2007
and business applications.
Office Business Application Services are available for beta
testing, while a technical preview of LOBi for Office SharePoint
Server is scheduled for the end of the year.