The Java^TM Message Service (JMS) API has been developed by Sun working in close cooperation with the leading enterprise messaging vendors.

Enterprise messaging is now recognized as an essential tool for building enterprise applications. By combining Java technology with enterprise messaging, the JMS API provides a new, powerful tool for solving enterprise computing problems.

Enterprise messaging provides a reliable, flexible service for the asynchronous exchange of critical business data and events throughout an enterprise. The JMS API adds to this a common API and provider framework that enables the development of portable, message based applications in the Java programming language.

The JMS API improves programmer productivity by defining a common set of messaging concepts and programming strategies that will be supported by all JMS technology-compliant messaging systems.

The JMS API could not have been produced without the enthusiastic support and encouragement of the enterprise messaging vendors . During the public review period we also received a number of important contributions from the developer community.