A recent spending survey of companies with active service oriented architecture (SOA) projects conducted by AMR Research shows IBM "is well ahead of its traditional competitors" doing SOA-related client work.

According to the AMR Research report, "SOA: The State of the Market" by research director Ian Finley, more than 67 percent of companies surveyed indicated they were either currently using or considering using IBM SOA consulting services. This figure was 40 percent higher than the results for the next-closest firm, which was named by fewer than half of respondents.

According to the AMR Research report, IBM's SOA-related software products were being used or considered by 63 percent of companies with active SOA projects.

Just more than half of the companies surveyed by AMR Research said they are currently working with IBM on SOA consulting engagements. The report also noted that, "While IBM's leadership is understandable, given its leading SOA product suite and concerted marketing efforts, its degree of penetration in companies with active SOA projects is impressive."

IBM offers the most comprehensive portfolio of software, services and hardware for building, maintaining and extending SOA environments. IBM has the largest number of SOA clients, with more than 5,700 SOA engagements all over the world.

"IBM's ability to deliver both the services and products that clients require to help them to realize the business value a true SOA environment sets us apart from any other company in the marketplace," said Robert LeBlanc, General Manager, Global Consulting Services and SOA, IBM Global Business Services. "Our market leadership shows that IBM is listening to clients needs and responding with the capabilities to help them attain new levels of business value."

SOA is among the fastest-growing segments of the information technology industry.