On applying formal techniques to the development of hybrid services: Challenges and directions

We are primarily interested in formal techniques and how they are applied t o the development of hybrid services in particular. We analyze the peculiar ities of such services, look at the use of formal techniques for communicat ion services in the industry, and highlight some of the major concerns for the application of formality in an industrial environment. It is argued tha t with the introduction of hybrid services, more pragmatism is required in applying formal techniques. We briefly describe an ongoing joint collaborat ion of Alcatel, Swisscom, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in which formal techniques are applied to the specification and testing of hyb rid services.