Video: For a dose of real-world, politically incorrect opinions, David Linthicum discusses the benefits and deficits of SOA. “That’s my job — to be the designated buzzkill,” Linthicum explains. “We’re living very much in a confusing and changing world in that SOA has different definitions depending on who you’re talking to … One of the difficult things I find is to get beyond the hype that’s in this space.” To that end, he offers what not to do, then follows with several steps to embark on the journey. Watch part one of 5 things to avoid with SOA. If you don’t have the commitment at the C-level, in the budget, don’t do it, he advises. “You’re not going to be successful.” Related: Nortel readies SOA and communications push. Apps: With IBM putting Symphony in its second beta phase and boasting that 88 percent of those 250,000 who have downloaded it are existing Microsoft Office customers, Big Blue, it appears, is also ratcheting up the competition with Microsoft and Google in the hosted apps fray, Sean Gallagher reports. “The chances of a free Symphony desktop suite displacing Office in the corporate world are close to nil,” Gallagher adds in IBM’s Symphony: Will anyone listen? “And while a hosted version might be interesting to organizations still using Lotus Notes, it’s doubtful that it would upset anyone’s applecart, aside from Google’s efforts.” The news beat: Oracle executives discuss the company’s Web 2.0 intentions and Fusion’s timeframe at its user conference. The U.S. House passes a broadband statistics bill that would provide detailed measurements of availability. VeriSign says it will hone its focus on two core businesses, managing DNS infrastructure and selling SSL certificates, then divest three other lines. And Microsoft plans to offer a major upgrade to its Windows Live OneCare security suite next week. Technology Industry