International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that the number of developers of Java technology will rise from the current 2.5 million to 4.2 million in 2003, thus confirming that Java technology is growing in strength and increasingly ready to connect any client, anywhere, at anytime.The Holy War between Microsoft Corporation and Sun Microsystems is heating up as Sun unveils JAX Pack to compete with Microsoft's .NET initiative.As Web developers become more expert with XML, they are moving beyond simply using XML to define data, and are now redefining the possibilities of Web-based services and applications. These XML-based Web services are programmable and reusable applications accessible from anywhere via the Internet. Services developed using this model will run across multiple Web sites, drawing on information and services from each of them, and combining and delivering these services in customized formats to any device.JAX Pack is an all-in-one development kit that utilizes XML to build cross platform Web services. Bundling the Java XML Technologies together into JAX Pack ensures developers a quick and easy development cycle for integration of XML into the Java platform, allowing developers to focus on their business logic and be more productive. JAX Pack brings together several of the key industry standards for XML - such as SAX, DOM, XSLT, SOAP, UDDI, ebXML, and WSDL - into one convenient package. Through support of these technologies in conjunction with the Java Platform, JAX Pack technology enables interoperability between applications, services, and trading partners through a vendor neutral platform that allows for sharing of custom industry standard data formats.For companies that are developing Web services to collaborate with business partners, JAX Pack offers a faster way to develop applications while maintaining independence from any particular vendor's XML technologies.