NTT Communications Corporation has announced the October 9, 2002 launch of "Asia's first UDDI Business Registry based on the Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) specifications, joining IBM, Microsoft and SAP in providing a completely open public registry with a standard access method for companies to register their services and search for business partners' services online." In July 2002 NTT Com and IBM announced a collaborative arrangement for building NTT Com's UDDI Business Registry using IBM's WebSphere and DB2 products and technologies. "The UDDI Business Registry is an online directory that enables companies to register, search and dynamically share information completely free of charge. NTT Com joined the UDDI Operators Council in December 2001 to become Asia's first UDDI Business Registry node operator. Information is registered in a unified format as defined by the UDDI specifications. Information registered in the database of each registry node operator is regularly copied to the other operators' databases, assuring a consistent, worldwide network of registered information. As part of registering its own services in the registry, NTT Com plans to develop new business-to-business (B2B) Web Services and thereby establish the company as a new leader in this field. Like the registries currently operated by IBM, Microsoft and SAP, NTT Com's registry will be based on the UDDI Version 2 specifications."

From the announcement:

"UDDI is a key part of the Web Services infrastructure, providing companies with the ability to easily discover and transact with each other," said Rod Smith, Vice President of Emerging Technology, IBM. "IBM is pleased that NTT Com is taking a leadership role in Asia by launching the region's first UDDI Business Registry. This will help expand business opportunities by simplifying integration."

"Microsoft is pleased to welcome NTT Com to the group of technology leaders operating the UDDI Business Registry," said Cliff Reeves, vice president of the Windows Division at Microsoft. "This is another indication of the broad adoption of UDDI, a core component of Web Services infrastructure."

NTT Com expects to add about 1,000 companies in the first year of operating its database. Currently, more than 10,000 companies are in the Registry's three existing UDDI nodes. Since any type of service interface can be used in the Registry, users have taken advantage of this convenience to register some 7,000 Web Services.

NTT Com will also use the Registry to promote its own Web Services. The company will develop new Web-based business solutions and register them, like other users, in the new Asian-based registry. The company already offers popular B2B e-commerce Web Services such as ".com Co-Buy," launched as Japan's first online marketplace in July 2000, and ".com Exchange," an electronic data interchange outsourcing service launched in January 2001.

NTT Communications is a Tokyo-based subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, provides long-distance and international services for voice, video and data communication reaching more than 200 countries.