Middleware?

[ZeroX]

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/info/takebackcontrol/us/index.jsp?orgid=007&brid=002&S_TACT=106AC01W&S_CMP=tbc_banner

BM's Information Management portfolio delivers the right information to the right people or processes at the right time - so they can act on it. Capture, integrate, analyze and manage all forms of data for all kinds of workloads and applications. It's modular, scalable and flexible: IBM Information Management middleware is designed to support structured and unstructured data and business services so you can capitalize on the true business value of your information.

I never heard of such a term? I have heard of adware, spyware, shareware, freeware, and many others but never of middleware? Could somebody explain to me what it is?

[Chavo]

Its the software version of a middleman.  You might have two applications that your company uses heavily.  One used by salespeople and another used by behind-the-scenes employees.  If they need to share information readily but don't have an easy way for the two applications to 'converse', a middleware application might act as a buffer between the two in order to ensure smooth operation and improve efficiency.

That's just one, simple example of course.

[ZeroX]

Its the software version of a middleman.  You might have two applications that your company uses heavily.  One used by salespeople and another used by behind-the-scenes employees.  If they need to share information readily but don't have an easy way for the two applications to 'converse', a middleware application might act as a buffer between the two in order to ensure smooth operation and improve efficiency.

That's just one, simple example of course.

Thank you.