Layered Architecture and SOA

Recently I had an architectural evaluation at one of my client. While discussing the architectural aspects with fellow architects and designers, I realized that there is very low understanding of SOA. Most of the persons were aware of Service, webservice, XML, ESB, Rule Engine, WS* standards in silo and most probably even in one application. But when multiple applications communicate, still thinking is in era of layered architecture. Most of the persons not ready to realize that layered architecture is not confined to one application but also across applications and services. Applications and services have their own layers but in bigger picture applications and services also fall into some layer.

I hope as SOA become wide spread and more practiced, this confusion will go away.