ATG Responds To App Server ConsolidationATG Responds To App Server Consolidation

As application servers continue to be commoditized, companies increasingly are looking to settle on a standard app server so they can reduce complexity and focus on rolling out applications. Recognizing that trend, E-business software vendor ATG Inc. has been converting its apps to Java 2 Enterprise Edition to make them compatible with other app servers. After launching support of BEA's WebLogic app server last month, ATG on Monday will launch beta support for IBM's WebSphere app server. Support for Oracle9i Application Server, iPlanet Application Server, and Hewlett-Packard's Bluestone Total-e-Server will follow later this year.

Analysts say the move is a good one because ATG is no longer a significant presence in the app server market and its E-commerce, portal, and scenario-oriented personalization applications offer customers more value than app servers can deliver anyway.

Ken Volpe, VP of product strategy at ATG, says the decision to support other prominent app servers is intended to let customers choose the app server they'd like to standardize on and to let those who've already standardized keep things as simple as possible. It also lets ATG focus on its core software offerings. "What we've focused on is the application-level and business-level needs of a company and of a development organization," Volpe says.

Customers who've standardized on WebSphere or WebLogic app servers will be able to deploy and access ATG apps without having to purchase the company's Dynamo Application Server, which had been an integral part of ATG's proprietary technology.

David Schatsky, a Jupiter Media Metrix analyst, says ATG's move should help it overcome objections from potential customers uncomfortable with the idea of bringing in new app server technology. "It gives them more flexibility in the marketplace," Schatsky says. While ATG says it will continue to support the Dynamo app server, Yankee Group analyst Rob Perry predicts the company eventually will exit that portion of the business altogether.