This initial stage uses the FUSE ESB product to integrate complex back-end systems enabling automated processing to support its Annuities Operation.

Prudential UK used the FUSE ESB open source technology to implement a core part of its back-end infrastructure. The initial phase includes a suite of reusable web services that calculate projected returns for different annuity products. These services connect to diverse back-end systems including databases, WebSphere MQ, and third party services. Building on this success, Prudential has begun adopting the Progress FUSE Message Broker® product for high performance, reliable messaging.

Prudential selected the FUSE ESB product because of its robustness, scalability, and because of its support of OSGI, a standards-based framework for Java development. OSGi provided them with a clean way to manage service lifecycle, dependencies and versioning, and resulted in simplified, high performance architecture.

"We have an ongoing stream of work that requires suitable, sustainable technology in order for us to deliver that work," said Tim Milbourne, IT Architect at Prudential UK. "The Progress FUSE ESB product has an open, standards-based model that will support our needs now and in the future," he continued. "This first step lays the foundation for change."

"Prudential UK is an example of a large organisation taking advantage of open source technologies to drive new and efficient computing standards without having to replace equipment, software and networks that have been built up over many years," commented Rob Davies, Director of FUSE Engineering at Progress Software Corporation and co-founder of the Apache ActiveMQ and ServiceMix open source projects.