Are J2EE and .NET integration tools required?

Not all apps run on J2EE and there are many .NET applications out there, so there's also a need to integrate these two types of applications. The Gartner Group says Java/.NET interop will gain an ever bigger spotlight over the next 2-3 years, as up to 30% of all new enterprise apps will be Java/.NET “hybrids. To fulfill this integration need have emerged many products that claim to provide easy integration between .NET and J2EE. In a recent interview, Ted Dinsmore, president of a consultancy that delivers integrated technology and business solutions said that "[Concerning J2EE integration] I'm not very excited about those products at all. If the developer on J2EE created a Web service, the developer on .NET is able to consume it. So why do I need third-party software to go between the two?" However are these tools really required or can you just stick to creating standard web services and achieve integration just as easily? Related: >> Top 3 Java-to.NET Interoperatability Issues