Consortium Announces Plans to Support ebXML in Implementation Framework

Boston, MA, USA and Geneva, Switzerland; 27 April 2001 - International consortium, RosettaNet, announced plans to integrate support for the UN/CEFACT and OASIS-backed ebXML Messaging Services Specification in future releases of RosettaNet's Implementation Framework (RNIF). An initiative of the UN/CEFACT and OASIS, ebXML standardizes the secure packaging, routing and transfer of electronic information. RosettaNet, which represents more than 400 companies and over 1 trillion USD in annual information technology, electronic components and semiconductor manufacturing revenues, provides RNIF as a framework for electronic business process development and implementation.

"RosettaNet has been active in the ebXML development since the initiative's inception, and we are pleased by this announcement of their implementation plans," said Klaus-Dieter Naujok, chair of ebXML and member of the UN/CEFACT Steering Group. "By supporting the ebXML Messaging Services Specification, which integrates SOAP 1.1, RosettaNet demonstrates its commitment to the adoption of an open messaging service standard that can be used universally, regardless of industry or geography, to transport electronic information between trading partners."

"While RosettaNet remains committed to developing business process standards required to support the complex needs of the high-technology industry, we also want to ensure interoperability across all supply chains. To that end, we see tremendous value in ensuring our vertical supply chain standards are supported by a horizontal, universally accepted messaging service, such as ebXML," said Jennifer Hamilton, RosettaNet CEO.

The ebXML Messaging Services Specification ensures the secure packaging, routing and transfer of electronic information over the Internet. As an underlying communication protocol, the ebXML Messaging Services Specification can be used universally, regardless of industry or geography, to transport electronic information between trading partners.

"RosettaNet, UN/CEFACT and OASIS share a very 'open' philosophy. Our organizations are dedicated to presenting the electronic business community with a complementary standards, rather than fragmented ones," said Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. "Collaboration makes good business sense and in the end will provide companies with more cost-effective, highly interoperable solutions."

According to ebXML Messaging Services Project Team Leader, Rik Drummond of the Drummond Group, "RosettaNet's support of the ebXML Messaging Services Specification will facilitate the interoperability of supply chains across multiple industries. RosettaNet's support is very exciting news for electronic business on a global scale."

About RosettaNet
RosettaNet (www.rosettanet.org) is an independent, non-profit consortium dedicated to the collaborative development and rapid deployment of open Internet-based business standards that align processes within the global high-technology trading network.

About ebXML
ebXML (www.ebXML.org) is an international initiative established by UN/CEFACT and OASIS in late 1999 with a mandate to undertake an 18-month program of work to research and identify the technical basis upon which the global implementation of XML can be standardized. The goal of ebXML is to facilitate open trade between organizations regardless of size by enabling XML to be used in a consistent manner to exchange electronic business data.

About UN/CEFACT
UN/CEFACT (www.uncefact.org) is the United Nations body whose mandate covers worldwide policy and technical development in the area of trade facilitation and electronic business. Headquartered in Geneva, it has developed and promoted many tools for the facilitation of global business processes including UN/EDIFACT, the international EDI standard. Its current work programme includes such topics as Simpl-edi and Object Oriented EDI and it strongly supports the development and implementation of open, interoperable global standards and specifications for electronic business.

About OASIS
OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org) is the international, not-for-profit consortium that advances electronic business by promoting open, collaborative development of interoperability specifications. OASIS serves as the home for industry groups interested in developing XML specifications. OASIS sponsors include Accenture, Access360, Adobe Systems, AND Data Solutions, Arbortext, Auto-trol, Aventail, Baltimore Technologies, B-Bop Associates, BEA Systems, Bentley Systems, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Bowstreet, Business Logic Corporation, Chrystal Software, Cincom Systems, Cohesia, Commerce One, Critical Path, CrossLogix, DataChannel, Dataloom, Deutsche Post AG, Documentum, EADS Airbus, empolis, Engage, Enigma, Excelergy, eXcelon, Extricity Software, First Call Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Informix, Infoteria, Innodata, Intel, Interwoven, IPNet Solutions, ITEDO Software, Ivis Group, Jamcracker, Logistics Management Institute, Mediaplex, Mercator Software, Microsoft, Netegrity, NetFish Technologies, Netscape/AOL, NextPage, NII Enterprise Promotion Association, Nimble Technology, NIST, Novell, ObjectSpace, Oblix, OpenNetwork Technologies, Pearson Education, Planet 7 Technologies, Popkin Software, Reuters Limited, SAA Consultants, Sabre, SAP, SeeBeyond, Sequoia Software, Silverstream Software, SoftQuad Software, Software AG, Sterling Commerce, StreamServe, Sun Microsystems, Synth-Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, The Tamalpais Group, Thomas Technology Solution, Tibco, US Defense Information Systems Agency, Virtual Access Networks, Visa International, Wavo, webMethods, Whitehill Technologies, Xerox, XML Global, XMLSolutions and Xyvision Enterprise Solutions.

For more information:
Carol Geyer
Director of Communications
OASIS
carol.geyer@oasis-open.org
+1.941.284.0403