OASIS NEWS: ebXML Moves Forward on Defining Global Electronic Business Infrastructure

["Laura Walker" <laura.walker@oasis-open.org>]

ebXML Moves Forward on Defining Global Electronic Business Infrastructure

Meeting in Europe Produces Approved Requirements Specification and
Proof-of-Concept Messaging Demonstration

Brussels, Belgium; 15 May 2000 -— Significant progress in standardizing a
global XML electronic business infrastructure was unveiled at the latest
ebXML meeting in Europe last week hosted by CEN/ISSS. Under the guidance of
UN/CEFACT and OASIS, electronic business experts representing standards
organizations, industry consortia and companies from around the world
gathered in Brussels for a working meeting that marked the six-month point
in the initiative’s 18-month charter. Highlights of the meeting included the
approval of the ebXML Requirements Specification and a proof-of-concept
demonstration for the routing and enveloping of ebXML messages.

"We are very pleased with the ebXML progress to date," said Klaus-Dieter
Naujok, Chair of ebXML and Member of the UN/CEFACT Steering Committee. "The
roadmap to achieving interoperability and integration of business services
has been defined. We are making great strides toward accomplishing our
objectives through the approval of specifications and delivery of
prototypes."

In an open plenary at the conclusion of the Europe meeting, participants
approved the ebXML Requirements Specification defining the full scope of the
initiative. Prior to the vote, the Specification had been available 60 days
for public review.

"The Requirements Specification will serve as the foundation for the
Initiative, setting the scope for the other ebXML project teams as they
develop the technical specifications for the ebXML framework," explained
Michael C. Rawlins, Leader of the ebXML Requirements Team.

The ebXML Transport, Routing and Packaging Project Team successfully
demonstrated a proof-of-concept in which sample OpenTravel Alliance (OTA)
business messages were exchanged between a small company and a large
enterprise. The messaging prototype implemented the draft ebXML
specification for exchange of business documents between trading partners
using the everyday Internet Web and e-mail protocols, HTTP and SMTP. The
demonstration also integrated output from the ebXML Business Process and
Registry and Repository Project Teams.

"ebXML is not technology for technology’s sake. Our motivation is to provide
genuine business solutions that enable global trade," said Rik Drummond,
leader of the ebXML Transport, Routing and Packaging Project Team. "We are
very aware of the time-critical nature of our objectives. We’re producing
drafts, prototyping and integrating work from other ebXML project teams now
so that we can give businesses the solutions they need as soon as possible."

"Support for the ebXML effort continues to grow at a tremendous rate.
Representatives from virtually all the leading industry standards
organizations actively participate in ebXML, and we are coordinating our
development efforts with their work," noted Dr. Robert S. Sutor, Vice-Chair
of ebXML and Chief Strategy Officer of OASIS. "The meeting in Brussels
attracted almost twice as many attendees as our previous gathering, with
participants from many European and global organizations."

Participation in ebXML remains open to all interested parties. Current
information on all the ebXML project teams is available on www.ebxml.org.

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 (Extensible Markup Language) 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 a non-profit, international consortium
dedicated solely to product-independent data and content interchange.
Focusing on product interoperability, OASIS embraces the complete spectrum
of structured information standards including XML, SGML and CGM. OASIS
sponsors include Adobe Systems, Aerospatiale, AND-USA, Arbortext, BEA
Systems, Bentley Systems, Boeing, Bowstreet, Bridge, Chrystal Software,
Cohesia, Commerce One, CommerceNet, CompTIA, Corel, DataChannel, DMSi,
Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, eCredit.com, Enigma, eXcelon, Extricity
Software, GCA, Health Level Seven, IBM, InformIT, Informix, InterCAP,
Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, JetForm, Keyfile, Logistics Management
Institute, Mercator Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NII Enterprise Promotion
Association, Nimble.com, NIST, Object Management Group (OMG), Open
Applications Group, Pick Systems, POET Software, ProNet Technology Partners,
Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SAP, Sequoia Software, SoftQuad, Software
AG, STEP, StreamServe, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, Visa, Wavo, Webb
Interactive Services, webMethods, Whitehill Technologies, Xerox,
XMLSolutions and XyEnterprise.

For More Information Contact:

Carol Geyer
Media Relations Consultant, OASIS
+1.941.926.2322,
carol.geyer@oasis-open.org

or

Hans Hansell
Head UN/CEFACT Secretariat
+41 22 917 2457
Hans.Hansell@unece.org