Enterprise Application Integration is the art of getting all the processes and data in your company to all work together.  There are three basic ways we do this:

	* DatabaseIntegration
	* MethodIntegration
	* UserInterfaceIntegration
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I would also add
	* PointToPointIntegration
	* RepositoryIntegration ''(Is this not redundant with database integration, mentioned above? DeleteWhenCooked.)''
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There is another type called application integration but if these are really method integration supplied by application vendors.
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''Applications are what makes [enterprise information system] integration hard! (See EnterpriseApplicationProblems.)  What problems do you see with the DoItFramework approach to eliminating applications and integrating all problem area requirements with a single application neutral platform?''
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I would say there are way more than three methods required for application integration.  Typically some form of MiddleWare is required, either in the sense of an ObjectBroker, MessageOrientedMiddleware, or InterfaceEngines.

MicroSoft announced a product called BizTalk together with the DistributedInternetArchitecture in ?1999. It started delivery after 2000. Currently in early 2004 it is still the tool Microsoft would recommend for integrating information from existing applications. In theory these integration could be done using Webservices, however use of a MiddleWare is far easier. 

This article from MicroSoft is probably worth reading, if there is a need to understand what do the products actually do. I hope someone will summarize it for the those of us interested in an overview.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnbiz2k2/html/bts_eai_pattern.asp

'''Jun05 update on MicrosoftEnterpriseComputing'''

MicrosoftCorporation and SapCorporation initiated a "Project Mendocino" to link Sap data with MS office in future. Current integration options for BusinessProcessManagement purposes are discussed at article in http://searchsap.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid21_gci1096676,00.html
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'''JavaPlatform aspects'''

''Reconstructing J2EE-Java Business Integration Meets the Enterprise Service Bus'' at http://webservices.sys-con.com/read/39767_p.htm
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When ServiceOrientedArchitecture start to deliver products meeting all objectives, then there will not be a need for separate MiddleWare products.
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For the latest reports on Application Integration go to http://www.bitpipe.com/rlist/term/Application-Integration.html for whitepapers and case studies.
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CategoryEnterpriseComputingConcerns