(Message Oriented Middleware) Software plumbing. Message-
oriented middleware is the term for software that connects
separate systems in a network by carrying and distributing
messages between them. The messages may contain data, software
instructions, or both together. MOM infrastructure is typically
built around a queuing system that stores messages pending
delivery, and keeps track of whether and when each message has
been delivered. Most MOM systems also support autonomous
publish-subscribe messaging. MOM products frequently use
proprietary messaging technologies -- well-known examples
include IBM MQSeries, MSMQ from Microsoft and Tibco Rendezvous
-- but emerging standards specifications such as JMS and WS-
ReliableMessaging are now enabling standards-based MOM
infrastructures.