JNBridge, (www.jnbridge.com), the award-winning provider of interoperability tools that connect the Java and .NET Frameworks, today announced codename "Project Lightning," a new initiative to extend Java and .NET interoperability into the cloud. "Project Lightning" will enable developers to access both .NET-based and Java-based cloud services from clients and services written with either platform, and to write cloud services incorporating both Java-based and .NET-based components.

"We believe that what is typically discussed under the rubric of cloud interoperability is so insufficient it will destroy the promise of the cloud," said Wayne Citrin, CTO of JNBridge. "JNBridge's position is that 'Cloud Interoperability' must encompass full Cloud-to-Cloud access, where any cloud service can access any other cloud's service, full Cloud-to-Ground access, where any cloud service can be consumed from any client or on-premise platform, and full interoperability within a cloud service. In order for this to work, developers need the ability to write cloud services using any platform, easily, simply and quickly, and regardless of the cloud vendor. Our vision of cloud interoperability is any object, on any platform, in any language, anywhere, and at any time."

As a first step towards this vision, JNBridge is demoing new cloud-based software at JavaOne. The demos show Java-based clients accessing Azure (.NET-based) services, including support for Azure Cloud Drives. This demonstrates the ability for legacy applications to run in the cloud by simulating access to non-existent legacy facilities such as the registry and file system.

"Interoperability in the cloud is currently a real problem. Supporting real interoperability is critical to the success and survival of the cloud computing model, and right now it is a large stumbling block that prevents adoption," said Mark Driver, vice president of research at Gartner. "Initiatives that support cloud interoperability in its various aspects will benefit cloud users, vendors of cloud services, and vendors of the underlying cloud platforms."

JNBridge is also presenting an "unconference" session at JavaOne titled "Interoperability issues in the cloud... and how to solve them" on Tuesday, September 21 at 1 p.m. Pacific.

For an in-depth view on "Why Interoperability Must Succeed for the Cloud to Survive," see (http://www.jnbridge.com/jn/blog/2010/08/31/why-interoperability-must-succeed-for-the-cloud-to-survive/).