Diary Date: 17 to 18 April 2002 Butler Group Symposium, London Web Services - The Technologies, Strategies, and Methods that will transform the way we use IT

According to Butler Group, Web Services will prove to be highly significant for the way organisations deliver IT services in their businesses, based on findings from a recent survey of CIOs and IT Directors. Over 76% of those interviewed agreed with the significance of Web Services, but 92% said they believed there was a need for clarification and definition of the technology and its role in a corporate environment. This Symposium will help organisations to understand, plan and execute Web Services technology within their businesses.

The world of computing constantly evolves. The next big evolution will be the move to ‘software becoming a service – or Web Services. With some US$2 trillion being spent on internal costs associated with IT every year – how will organisations manage to maintain growth without compromising their IT systems? Web Services allows this – by enabling these costs to be externalised, thus, freeing up resource for future growth.

This Symposium will deal with the issues of understanding, planning and executing a Web Services strategy, and is intended for senior IT and business executives. The two-day conference and exhibition will cover the following areas:
 Defining what Web Services is.
 Understanding how Web Services is going to replace existing technology.
 Identifying which technologies will enable Web Services.
 Identifying which technology vendors will play the most dominant roles.
 Defining how big the Web Services market will be.
 Demonstrating how Web Services will change the face of corporate computing.
 Providing practical advice on the technology standards and infrastructures that will be needed to use Web Services.
 Demonstrating the impact that joined-up services are already having on businesses and users.
 Defining the advantages and disadvantages of the current Web Services model in use.
 Demonstrating how technology will become cheaper to run, and why.

Current Sponsors:
 Platinum Sponsors: Microsoft; Sun Microsystems
 Gold Sponsors: BEA Systems; Hewlett-Packard; IBM; Iona
 Silver Sponsors: Attachmate
 Exhibitors: Attachmate; BEA Systems; Borland; Compuware; Epionet; Hewlett-Packard; IBM; Iona; Microsoft; Openlink; Silverstream; Sun Microsystems

For more information, e-mail jimane.cartwright@butlergroup.com or, to register on-line, visit www.butlergroup.com/events/webservices. The delegate cost for attending this event is 995GBP (+VAT).

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Notes to the Editors:

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About Butler Group:

Butler Group is Europes leading independent IT Research and Advisory organisation. Our mission is to ensure our clients are the most comprehensively informed IT and business managers on current, emerging, and future technology matters, and their impact on business - in short, Analysis without compromise".

Founded in 1990 by Martin Butler, Butler Group has established an enviable reputation for the impartiality and incisiveness of its research and opinions. A client base encompassing over 50% of the top 100 companies in each of our key markets evidences this.

Butler Group delivers a broad spectrum of research, analysis, and advice on all issues surrounding the practical application of technology in business. Our analysis is available via direct access to our experts, written research, and conferences.

For further information on Butler Group, its products and services, visit the Web site: www.butlergroup.com.

Helen White, Butler Group
Tel: +44 (0)1482 608326, E-mail: helen.white@butlergroup.com