OMB backs .Net, Java2

The Office of Management and Budget is recommending Microsoft's .Net and Java2 Enterprise Edition as possible architectures for its 24 e-government projects.

The two architectures are the only ones that are relatively proven in industry, said Debra Stouffer, OMB's federal enterprise architecture program manager. "They offer the capabilities that we outlined in our requirements. They are open technologies with proven industry standards," she said.

Stouffer said systems based on them are reusable, stable, interoperable, portable and secure, all of which are requirements for the 24 projects. OMB rated both technologies on a 24-point scale for Web services, file transfer protocol and e-mail. J2EE rated higher, especially in Web services, where it earned 22 of 24 points.

OMB is outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each, but is not recommending which one to use.