Can anyone be surprised with Cisco's decision to enter the XML Messaging market ? With the rapid propagation of XML into the mainstream market esp in the areas of XML Messaging (aka XML SOAP Services), Middleware, Brokering, Intermediaries, it is about time customers get more choices and exposure in this arena.

With Cisco in this segment of the market, I do expect more alternatives and choices in XML Boxes to be had by customers and them paying lesser as well.

I still remember very clearly it was only less than 2 years back when I brought up the idea of introducing an XML Firewall into a client's environment by then Flamenco Networks (which is now acquired by Digital Evolution) and being pooed-pooed right in my face on how a text-based representation can be used for messaging and how the contents of this representation can be inspected at wire-speed at the hardware level.

Well, Moore's Law has made it so that the price and speed of high-powered specialized processing such as XML-Encryption and XML-Digital Signature besides just plain inspecting and routing of SOAP packets can be made available to the grasp of the general masses. This will also bring forward the concept of Application-Oriented Networking into the market. I dunno BUT are we seeing another layer of abstraction into the mix now ?

Too bad this client is not around anymore for me to say "I told you so..."

I am very interested to see how this whole affair pans out with the middleware app-server companies such as Big Blue