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Last modified: April 12, 2000
XML Industry News

XML News

This XML Industry News section consists mainly of links to company press releases announcing support for XML/XSL/XLink, beginning with January 2000. An effort has been made to include representative items, but the collection is not exhaustive. Other documents with reference collections:

Major articles on XML in the trade magazines, as well as the more substantive refereed articles on XML in technical publications, are listed in the dedicated database sections: Current XML Surveys and Overview Articles

Site Search: [VMS Indexed Search]

  • [March 31, 2000] "IBM Announces Worldwide Availability of Software For Delivering Web Content to Wireless Devices." - "IBM today announced the worldwide availability of IBM WebSphere Transcoding Publisher, software that dynamically translates Web information -- including text and images -- to a format readable on a variety of Internet appliances. WebSphere Transcoding Publisher extends the reach of Web data and applications to a new generation of information appliances, including smart phones, car browsers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Because Transcoding Publisher customizes the content to match the capabilities of the receiving device, applications do not have to be rewritten. Built on an extensible, Java-based architecture, WebSphere Transcoding Publisher converts data and applications written in the standard markup languages of the Web -- HTML and XML -- to other formats such as Wireless Markup Language (WML). It can also convert graphics to a format that can be viewed on a wireless device. The software is based on open industry standards and available for AIX, Linux, Solaris and Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems."

  • [March 31, 2000] "XCare.net Announces Strategic Alliance With cranespharmacy.com. XCare.net Will Create an Integrated Private-Label Online Pharmacy Solution Exchange for Business Clients." - "XCare.net, a leading eBusiness solutions and services provider for healthcare organizations, announced a strategic vendor partnership with cranespharmacy.com, the first company to develop, host and manage customer-branded Internet pharmacies for payers, providers and other healthcare companies and health focused Web sites. XCare.net will integrate cranespharmacy.com's private-label online pharmacy applications for XCare.net's business clients through a Solution Exchange built on XCare.net's proprietary business-to-business eHealth platform. This platform, built using proprietary technology based on XML and XTM, creates a web-based exchange of high-value products and services between XCare.net's clients and partners. As part of this alliance, XCare.net with generate transaction revenue. XCare.net payer clients that utilize the integrated online pharmacy solution can deliver personalized health information to their members along with cranespharmacy.com's extensive online catalog of health products. The pharmacy system will provide XCare.net's business clients with connectivity to their preferred prescription fulfillment partners, including prescription benefit management companies, mail order services and retail pharmacy networks. . . through the use of Topic Navigation Mapping technology, the ability to create dynamic access to static data is now possible. Unlike traditional full searches which often return irrelevant results, XCare.net leverages TNM to provide our customers with advanced search capability to intelligently navigate for healthcare-related information that is most meaningful to them. . . XCare.net is a leading provider of strategic eBusiness portals and business-to-business Internet solutions designed specifically for the healthcare industry. The company builds mission-critical web sites and leverages its XML-based architecture and a proprietary set of search, filtering and integration technologies, in conjunction with the eXtensible Topic Mapping publishing standard to provide a mass-customized and personalized eBusiness environment. This is tailored to enhance the clients' personalized brand and to process high value transactions and mission critical applications. . . (1) Content and Workflow Services (Information Objects) are tagged using XML and made available for integration within a virtual repository (Enterprise Data Warehouse or the Web). (2) The Service Brokering Layer provides the means to address the physical location and understand the type of XML object within the virtual repository. (3) The Semantic Brokering Layer understands and translates the meaning of a user request by navigating the topic navigation map to request the required information objects. (4) The Context Brokering Layer maintains composite application state, such as patient context, between objects selected for integration. (5) The Community Viewer dynamically renders the retrieved XCare.net objects into a format specific to the particular user."

  • [March 31, 2000] "MyComputer.com Partnership with SoftQuad Software Inc. To Enhance HoTMetaL PRO 6.0. Web developers gain access to integrated Web site management in latest version of HoTMetaL PRO." - "MyComputer.com, a leading application service provider dedicated to the development of integrated Web site management tools powering e-businesses, and SoftQuad Software Inc., today announced an agreement to bundle six MyComputer.com Web developer tools with the widely-deployed HoTMetaL PRO 6.0 Web site creation software. Noted as one of the top five HTML editors by CNET's Download.com, HoTMetaL PRO is a versatile Web site creation tool offering WYSIWYG display and tutorials for novices; as well as a powerful, customizable and extensible package for seasoned site developers. Under terms of the agreement with MyComputer.com, HoTMetaL PRO 6.0 users have the option to download MyComputer.com tools to monitor and analyze site traffic and enhance visitor interaction. MyComputer.com offers the Web's largest suite of professional site management tools, providing users with resources to enhance the interactivity and marketing appeal of their sites in addition to tracking and analyzing site traffic. SoftQuad Software Inc. a leading developer of HTML and XML enabling technologies and commerce solutions for e-publishing, e-commerce and knowledge management. SoftQuad's HoTMetaL PRO is a widely deployed HTML Web site creation and management tool, providing advanced capabilities and productivity tools to quickly create sophisticated Web sites."

  • [March 31, 2000] "NetVendor Transforms Communities Into Marketplaces by Expanding E-commerce Distribution with IBM. NetVendor's E.MBRACE Works with IBM's WebSphere Commerce Suite for Service Providers to Fully Enable Electronic Distribution Channels." - "NetVendor, a leading provider of e- Channel solutions today unveiled a solution whereby companies may optimize distribution channels using NetVendor's E.MBRACE e-Channels solution and IBM's WebSphere Commerce Suite, Service Provider Edition. The new package is a combined offering called Channel Marketing Enablement (CME). Until now, an enormous effort was required to design and implement an Internet-enabled distribution channel. But with the new Channel Marketing Enablement (CME) package, manufacturers and distributors will find it much easier and faster to leverage the Internet in serving dealers and creating electronic marketplaces. The CME offering supports the full distribution lifecycle master catalogs and multiple dealer sub-catalogs; parts-search based on OEM equivalent, descriptions, engineering drawings; multi-tiered, flexible pricing; Request for Quote (RFQ) and multiple purchase order processing; control of distribution by territory and dealer, account-based and electronic payment methods; shipment management and tracking; Return Materials Authorizations (RMAs); and flexible XML-based interfaces to existing business systems."

  • [March 31, 2000] "Firstlogic Announces E-Business and International Data Quality Solutions to Improve Customers' Worldwide Competitive Edge. ASP Availability and XML Communication Deliver Added Benefits to Customers." - "Firstlogic, Inc. announced the significant expansion of its eDataQuality suite, including the most detailed international data quality solution available today, Application Service Provider (ASP) flexibility and Internet-enabled client/server architectures utilizing XML communication. The eDataQuality suite uses the core technology of Firstlogic's i.d.Centric product line. The software helps any organization cleanse customer data in real-time, at the point of data capture or anywhere in the enterprise, to ensure that customer information is reliable and accurate before it enters a database. Firstlogic is the first to offer such extensive international data quality capabilities in an online transactional environment. This sophisticated solution offers North American and European address assignment that allows businesses to maintain accurate and complete international data in their enterprise systems. The data quality software accurately standardizes, corrects, assigns and enhances customer data for the U.S., Canada and 16 European countries, including France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. The eDataQuality suite is extremely flexible with Internet-enabled client/server IT architectures and offers familiar interfaces to an organization's existing development and operating technologies. Available clients include ActiveX (COM), Java, Perl, C++, MS/SQL Extended Stored Procedures and direct XML communication."

  • [March 30, 2000] "Vertical Computer Systems Announces Official Launch of the Brazil Bridge for April 22, 2000." - "Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. announced today the official release date for the launch of its second multi-lingual / multi-national portal - theBrazilBridge.com will be April 22, 2000. The Portuguese language portal will offer Brazilian web surfers a proprietary internet search engine written with Vertical Computer System's proprietary MLE (Emily) Markup Language Executive, free e-mail, electronic shopping, online chat, news, sports, online radio and a business center. This search engine will incorporate multiple web crawlers to keep the site up-to-date, and will include the ability to suggest URLs and categories. The site will recognize returning visitors and allow them to continuously customize their search options and strategies. In addition to performing HTML-based queries, the Brazil Bridge will be XML enabled, allowing XML parsers, such as the Emily program or other standard parsers, to make queries and obtain the results in XML format. This provides a unique and powerful programmatic interface to the search engine. Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. is a multi lingual portal provider, and e-commerce solutions company, based in the United States. The Company provides a full range of Internet services that include building e-commerce solutions nationally and internationally, distributing content via its multi lingual portal network. . . Emily (MLE) is a programming language that consists of executable programs, files, configuration data, and documentation needed to create websites that intercommunicate via XML and HTTP. The Emily Framework is intended to be an engineering package comparable to other web development tools such as Allaire Cold Fusion or Microsoft Frontpage. The primary component of Emily is MLE (Markup Language Executive), a programming language that already runs on Windows NT, Linux and several UNIX platforms. The MLE Emily Solution is intended to be both a complement and possibly an alternative to Java on the server side. Emily implements XML explicitly designed for server-to-server communication, XML being the industry-endorsed format for business-to-business communication."

  • [March 30, 2000] "The E-Content Company Announces BladeRunner 2.0. Features PowerPoint for XML Authoring and Oracle8i Support for Greater Performance and Scalability." - "The e-content company, a division of Interleaf, Inc. and leader in delivering powerful XML-based content management solutions for e-business initiatives, today announced BladeRunner 2.0. Featuring a number of new productivity enhancements, BladeRunner 2.0 includes the ability to author XML content in PowerPoint and provides greater performance and scalability with Oracle-8i support. Marking an industry first, BladeRunner customers will be able to generate XML content in PowerPoint to gain greater access to and control of valuable information stored in this popular presentation software. Many corporations utilize PowerPoint presentations in their course of business. Content providers will produce valid XML from within the familiar PowerPoint environment without regard to the syntax or semantics of XML. In addition, content creators can utilize: presentations, presentation masters, slide masters, slides, text, bulleted lists and shapes from PowerPoint and create valid XML content that is then placed in the content repository. BladeRunner 2.0 includes support for Oracle 8i as the underlying database for its content repository. As a result, organizations benefit from having the ability to manage large volumes of XML content and making it available to countless users simultaneously. In addition to scalability benefits, BladeRunner 2.0 features significant performance enhancements enabling organizations to unleash the power of their corporate assets by leveraging nearly unlimited amounts of information. BladeRunner enables companies to create, manage, and publish e-content - targeted, timely, customized, intelligent, medium-aware business information - for web-enabled applications, using XML as its technology backbone and the Microsoft Office Suite for content creation. Companies are able to apply intelligence, structure and style to their business information, generate output in a variety of formats, and dynamically integrate that information with other electronic and business processes in support of their e-business initiatives. BladeRunner enables organizations to realize improved time to market, increase revenues, and gain a competitive advantage by providing a solution designed to leverage information content and facilitate business transactions throughout the information value chain, connecting corporations with their customers, suppliers, distributors, and partners."

  • [March 30, 2000] "Deltek Systems, Inc. Embraces aecXML Project. Joins International Alliance for Interoperability." - "Deltek Systems, Inc.. Deltek and the International Alliance for Interoperability (the Alliance) announced that the McLean-based enterprise solutions provider joined the aecXML Project. Deltek and the Alliance are joining forces to define the Extensible Markup Language (XML) standards for project and business-to-business communications in the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Alliance officials estimate that achieving true interoperability in the AEC marketplace would save the industry approximately $7.5 to $15 billion annually. This figure is based on estimates from McGraw-Hill and the CMD Group, which place the annual value of the total U.S., Canadian and Mexican commercial construction markets at $750 billion. Deltek's Executive Vice President for Software Development Eric Brehm observed that 'Despite advances in technology and information management systems, many AEC firms are still fragmenting their data by manually transferring project information among customers, partners and other industry sectors. The impact of data fragmentation on a company can be substantial, causing losses of data integrity, costly inefficiencies in coordinating among personnel, projects and resources, as well as lost revenues and opportunities.' Mr. Brehm points out that 'Deltek is already helping AEC firms by offering Internet-based business-to-business and enterprise relationship management solutions that consolidate fragmented information about customers and projects into one centralized and integrated system. Using XML standards will allow our customers to leverage the power of the Internet by freely exchanging information and collaborating with other organizations using the same or other compliant interoperable platforms.' Extensible Markup Language, or XML, is a meta-markup language that provides a universal data format for describing structured information. The 'extensibility' of the XML language makes it a very powerful business tool for communicating and collaborating on the Internet. By developing and implementing an 'XML schema' or relational vocabulary specific to AEC projects, organizations using the same schema could use their existing software applications to send, receive, access and retrieve virtually any type of project document or transactional data. It also gives AEC firms a much more efficient and effective way for taking advantage of e-collaboration and e-commerce opportunities, such as coordinating and synchronizing related project information with clients as well as doing business with suppliers and purchasers of equipment, materials, supplies, parts and services." See "aecXML Working Group - Architecture, Engineering and Construction."

  • [March 30, 2000] "Documentum, POET Software, and SAQQARA Systems Join Forces with Commerce One to Accelerate Supplier Participation in e-Marketplaces. Documentum 4i eBusiness Edition, POET eCatalog Suite, and SAQQARA Commerce Suite Support XML Common Business Library (xCBL) Format for Instant Access to the MarketSite Portal Solution." - "Commerce One, Inc., leader in global e-commerce solutions for business, today announced the execution of a memoranda of understanding with Documentum, POET Software, and SAQQARA Systems to deliver integrated e-catalog solutions that will enable suppliers to rapidly participate in business-to-business e-marketplaces powered by the Commerce One MarketSite Portal Solution. Documentum 4i eBusiness Edition, POET eCatalog Suite and SAQQARA Commerce Suite now support the standards-based XML Common Business Library (xCBL) that enables the seamless exchange of e-catalogs. Under the terms of the definitive agreements which the parties expect to sign shortly, Documentum, POET, and SAQQARA are the newest three of many industry-leading companies who endorse XML Common Business Library (xCBL), an industry standard created by Commerce One, that allows any company to trade with any other, anytime through end-to-end system integration and open XML document exchange. The new partnerships enable suppliers and manufacturers to automate the selling process and make product catalogs available to Commerce One MarketSite Portal Solution based business-to-business trading communities. Suppliers can choose a solution that best suits their unique requirements, providing them with seamless access to a global e-marketplace. The Documentum 4i eBusiness Edition, a leading content management solution, addresses the key functional requirements of content management, site management and content delivery. The eBusiness architecture is serving high-profile Internet, intranet, and extranet sites today; Web-enabling key business processes that will integrate with the MarketSite Portal Solution based on XML Common Business Library (xCBL). POET eCatalog Suite insulates suppliers from the inherent complexity of e-commerce by providing a standards-based method to make catalogs available within e-marketplaces. POET eCatalog Suite automatically generates catalogs that are customized for each buyer, reflecting their contract pricing, approved product selection, and more. Further, the suite is ideal for suppliers who must work with multiple exchanges, because it supports several commodity codification schemes, as well as legacy and XML eCatalog data formats. SAQQARA's Commerce Suite is an integrated set of Web server applications that enables Global 2000 manufacturers to manage and publish detailed product information with advanced product selection capabilities. It also enables the exchange of information with trading partners via the xCBL 2.0 standard and fully participates in business-to-business trading communities powered by the Commerce One MarketSite Portal Solution."

  • [March 30, 2000] "Kewill, With Microsoft, Works to Deliver Business-to-Business E-Commerce Solutions. Kewill will use Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 in its Next Generation of E-Commerce Solutions." - "Kewill E-Commerce, a leading provider of electronic commerce supply chain management solutions, today announced it will use the Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 as an integral component in its next generation of business-to-business e-commerce solutions. BizTalk Server will provide the tools and infrastructure required to automate business-to-business processes. The server interchanges business documents among various platforms and operating systems regardless of the application being used to process the documents. BizTalk Server also provides a standard gateway for sending and receiving documents via the Internet, which allows companies to integrate with their external trading partners. By taking advantage of BizTalk Framework-compatible schemas, which are based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) schemas that follow industry standards, BizTalk Server enables organizations to effectively and efficiently conduct business online. Kewill's solution consists of an e-commerce backbone including enterprise application integration, EDI integration, message agent technology and message transformation, as well as managed host service and enhanced applications. By implementing BizTalk Server, the infrastructure for all of Kewill's next generation of e-commerce solutions becomes based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) technology. Kewill plans to offer these new innovative e-commerce solutions this Spring. The BizTalk initiative represents the collective set of investments that Microsoft is making to facilitate business process integration within and between organizations using Internet-standard protocols and formats. It includes the BizTalk Framework, various cross-industry investments including the BizTalk.org business document library, as well as products and tools for developing, executing and managing distributed business processes. These investments are being made in conjunction with industry standards groups, technology and service providers, as well as key global organizations. Introduced in March 1999, the BizTalk Framework makes it easy for businesses to exchange information between software applications and conduct business over the Internet with trading partners and customers. The BizTalk Framework includes an open design framework for implementing an XML schema and a set of XML tags used in messages sent between applications. Microsoft, other software companies and industry-standards bodies will use the BizTalk Framework to produce XML schemas in a consistent manner to enable integration across industries and between business systems, independent of operating system, programming model or programming language." See BizTalk Framework."

  • [March 29, 2000] "XML Pioneer Releases New Version of Leading Financial Server for OFX, FIXML." - "XML Protocol technology pioneer, Innovision Corporation, released a new version of its key business-to-business communication technology, Innovision Financial Server. Leading technology innovators, including MSDW Online, A.G. Edwards, Mellon Bank and Dain Rauscher, are currently implementing Innovision Financial Server Version 1.6.2. Based upon Innovision's Nepal Technology infrastructure, Innovision Financial Server 1.6.2 allows financial institutions to support emerging XML-based applications, as well as popular OFX-based applications. Version 1.6.2 also allows account holders to communicate with their financial institution via fully secured e-mail, eliminating privacy issues presented by standard e-mail that is copied through a network. Current deployments of Innovision Financial Server are focused on bill payment, account aggregation, and investment portfolio tracking for both discount and full-service brokerage firms. Nepal connects software's disparate cultures and landscapes using XML Protocol technology. Innovision Financial Server, an XML Protocol server, is the company's first system summit within Nepal. Nepal represents Innovision's technology vision of a definitive structure for systems, protocols and frameworks. Innovision has protocol implementation and development environments for XML Protocols OFX and FIXML. Other XML Protocols, found within Nepal, are available on OpenBox, an online laboratory that provides early access to technologies developed by Innovision. Innovision Corporation is recognized as a pioneer in the development and application of XML Protocol technologies, including the groundbreaking introduction of OFX and FIXML protocol engines. As a leading developer of software solutions that shape data interchange standards, Innovision helps corporations reduce technology costs, expand market reach and meet complex interoperability challenges. See OpenBox Laboratory. Also: "Open Financial Exchange (OFX/OFE)."

  • [March 29, 2000] "Business Engine Announces the General Availability of the Business Engine Network. Internet-based Software Facilitates Resource and Initiative Management and Links Buyers and Sellers of Services Through a Business-to-Business eCommerce Hub." - "Business Engine Software Corporation, a leading supplier of e-business solutions for global IT, R&D and professional service organizations, today announced the availability of The Business Engine Network. The Business Engine Network is an end-to-end, Internet-based solution that links buyers and sellers of professional services in a seamless net-marketplace. The Business Engine Network combines Web-based applications for managing internal service organizations that purchase services with professional service organizations that sell services in a business-to-business commerce hub. The Business Engine Network leverages the success of the company's enterprise applications for managing IT and R&D service organizations, which have been installed at over 150 Global 2000 customers including Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Eli Lilly, Fidelity, The Gap, Merck, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Nokia, Quintiles, Roche, Sears and Siemens. The Business Engine Network is the first complete net market solution for sourcing, delivery and management of professional services. Online sales of services are projected to grow to $220 billion by 2003 according to Forrester Research Inc., of Cambridge, Mass. Leveraging XML technology and designing the product around the Microsoft BizTalk Framework architecture, The Business Engine Network allows global customers to automate the service procurement cycle, transferring business documents and information automatically between applications. Unlike applications for the e-procurement of products, The Business Engine Network continues to provide value after the contract is signed by managing the relationship between the service buyer and seller. The outcome is a streamlined process for both buyer and seller, resulting in significant savings in efficiency that translates into reduced costs for buyers and higher margins for sellers. Plus, by using open XML schemas, the system is available for every member of the service supply chain to use The Business Engine Network to seamlessly manage their relationship with their trading partner."

  • [March 29, 2000] "OnDisplay Demonstrates Leadership in B2B Integration with Shipment of the Industry's First Free B2B XML Server. Announcing General Availability of XML Connect. Intelisys, TIBCO, J.D. Edwards and Calico Voice Support, Beta Users Applaud New Product." - "OnDisplay, Inc., a leading provider of Internet infrastructure software for powering e-business sites, today announced the general availability of XML Connect. XML Connect is a free, business-to-business, XML-based server for organizations that need to establish secure, guaranteed exchange of critical business transactions with trading partners. This new product enables the exchange of XML business documents -- such as purchase orders, invoices, and order confirmations -- seamlessly and securely with any other XML Connect user, as well as with users of OnDisplay's CenterStage eBizXchange product. The new product can be downloaded from the XML Connect Web site, www.xmlconnect.net, and is the industry's first XML server to support all of the XML schemas on the market and is the only product that allows B2B e-commerce participants to set up secure connections with trading partners without the need to purchase and install proprietary software on both ends of the trading partner connection. Launched in limited partner release on February 3, XML Connect has already garnered support from such industry leaders as, W.W. Grainger, iPlanet Ecommerce Solutions (the Sun-Netscape Alliance), Manugistics, OrderTrust, PurchasePro.com, SciQuest.com, TPN Register and Vignette. Additionally, XML Connect has the endorsement of the three leading EDI providers in the world -- Harbinger, Sterling Commerce and GE Information Services... In conjunction with the availability of this product, OnDisplay is also launching XMLConnect.net, a B2B community portal found at http://www.xmlconnect.net. This portal was specifically created to become a destination site for the convergence of the B2B and XML Connect community. The community portal will offer a place to interact with trading partners, exchange ideas and access resources for learning more about the power of Internet ubiquity and the mass adoption of XML and XML Connect."

  • [March 29, 2000] "GetThere Application Network Ties Corporate Travel to Business-to-Business Framework. GetThere Teams With Industry Leaders to Link B2B Travel With Major Systems In Expense Reporting and B2B Commerce." - "GetThere.com, Inc., a leading provider of Internet-based business-to-business travel procurement systems, today announced the GetThere Application Network. The Application Network includes a new XML standard interface to link B2B applications with GetThere's Internet travel procurement system. Also a part of the Application Network, GetThere is teaming with several industry leaders to establish open communication between their systems and the GetThere Exchange, including Ariba, Captura, Concur Technologies, Extensity, and Gelco. The GetThere Application Network provides corporations with a seamless path to integrate their GetThere online travel procurement system with applications such as human resources management, expense management and other B2B commerce systems, using a standards-based extensible mark-up language (XML) interface. As an example of an integrated solution, corporate users booking their travel online can automatically populate an expense report with the travel expense information. After adding other expenses from the trip, the traveler sends the electronic report for approvals and reimbursement. In a different scenario, corporations that have had success with employees adopting Internet travel procurement can begin adding procurement of other goods or services in the same familiar portal on the company's intranet. .. The new GetThere Application Network includes an interface that enables seamless integration between the GetThere's travel procurement system and other business applications. It uses XML as the standard language between GetThere and other systems, and adds special features, such as expense report pre-population, data streaming, enhanced reporting and authentication/security, as well as user profile synchronization. The Open Travel Alliance (OTA) XML-based interface is a core component of the GetThere Application Network. GetThere and many of its partners are members of the OTA, which seeks to create and promote industry standards for data exchange in the travel industry. GetThere is promoting development of the OTA standard across the industry, ensuring interoperability between travel procurement applications and other leading enterprise applications." For related information, see OpenTravel Alliance (OTA)."

  • [March 29, 2000] "Web Standards Project Praises IE5/Mac. Urges Microsoft to 'Finish the Job'." - "The Web Standards Project (WaSP) today praised Microsoft's thorough implementation of HTML 4 and CSS 1 in the Macintosh version of Internet Explorer 5. However, the WaSP cautioned that no browser can be considered fully standards-compliant until it supports XML and the DOM, and the group urged Microsoft to take IE5/Mac to the next level. 'IE5/Mac offers the highest real-world standards compliance of any browser yet shipped,' said group leader Jeffrey Zeldman, who also praised the browser for focusing on accessibility. 'An innovative Text Zoom feature allows the visually impaired to increase the size of type on a Web page,' Zeldman noted. 'Web users will no longer be penalized for the poor authoring practices of some developers.' The WaSP had further praise for the browser's novel ``DOCTYPE''-sensitive rendering strategy, which delivers outstanding HTML4/CSS1 compliance or emulation of many older, nonstandard behaviors at the Web designer's discretion. But along with the applause, the group reminded Microsoft that meaningfully complete standards compliance must include support for XML 1.0 and the DOM 1 Core. The Web Standards Project is an international grassroots coalition of Web developers and users fighting for standards on the Web, by calling attention to browser incompatibilities that fragment the medium, prevent many people from using the Web, and add 25% to the cost of developing all sites. The WaSP urges all browser manufacturers to support existing standards before incorporating proprietary innovations, and is working to educate Web authors and Web-related software developers so that we may create a Web that works for everyone."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Software AG and SCO to Deliver the World's First XML Database Solution for UnixWare 7." - "Software AG and SCO today announced a joint initiative to deliver a cutting-edge XML database solution for e-businesses currently operating in the UNIX environment. The solution, based on Software AG's Tamino and SCO's award-winning UnixWare 7 operating system, will provide customers with a complete solution for developing, managing and publishing XML applications to a wide variety of electronic business applications. This integrated solution will be preconfigured and tailored for delivery through SCO and Software AG partners. The rapid growth in Web applications such as electronic commerce, Web portals, knowledge management and customer relationship management is fueling demand for XML applications. Software AG's product, Tamino, the world's fastest and first native XML server, is the ideal server for XML information because it can store, integrate and exchange data directly in XML native format. Tamino guarantees high performance and scalability since no extra layer is needed for data conversion to and from XML. With this initiative, the scope and breadth of XML applications based on UnixWare 7 will be expanded to enterprises of all sizes. Software AG and SCO plan to have the joint solution in the marketplace during the third quarter of 2000."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Entrust Technologies Lays XML Security Foundation for the Growth of B2B e-Commerce. Integrated XML Security Solutions from Entrust Encrypt and Digitally Sign XML Documents Sent Over the Internet." - "Entrust Technologies, Inc., global leader for solutions that bring trust to e-business, announced today its comprehensive set of solutions for XML security that enable organizations to accelerate the growth of business-to-business (B2B) transactions. Today's announcement further emphasizes Entrust's position as the global leader in bringing trust to e-business relationships by securing B2B Internet transactions and communications. Entrust is the first PKI vendor to offer XML security integrated with its solutions to help accelerate the burgeoning B2B e-commerce market. XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is the common, open, Internet standard that eases data exchange over the Internet. It is the language of B2B e-commerce. Enabling new distribution channels for products and services, XML eliminates technical incompatibilities by providing a uniform method for data interchange between systems. However, high value B2B transactions require comprehensive, integrated security that integrates with XML. Entrust's new set of solutions for XML security extend the XML framework to offer an integrated solution that is ideal for B2B transactions and communications. Entrust Technologies is committed to the growth and adoption of XML standards to further accelerate the growth of B2B e-commerce. Along with PureEdge Solutions Inc., and other leading vendors, Entrust is a contributing author to the XML digital signature standard spearheaded by W3C. Entrust has the tools available today to enable support for this new standard once ratified. Entrust B2B solutions integrate XML security for Web, e-mail, Virtual Private Networking (VPN), File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and third-party applications, building on Entrust's market-leading family of toolkits. Specifically, Entrust's solutions for XML security enable organizations to: (1) Secure XML documents sent over the Internet, intranets and extranets via SSL, e-mail, VPN, and FTP; (2) Digitally sign XML documents such as InternetForms as provided by PureEdge Solutions; (3) Encrypt XML documents."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Extensibility Inc. and VSI Announce Joint XML Development and Marketing Initiative." - "VSI (V-Systems Inc.) and Extensibility Inc. of Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday announced an agreement to tightly integrate and market the trial version of Extensibility's leading XML Authority product with VSI's Breeze XML Studio. Together the products provide a streamlined solution for e-business developers using Breeze XML Studio to generate Java API code directly from schema structures produced by XML Authority. Breeze XML Studio has a natural synergy with XML Authority as it moves schema directly into the Java programmer's realm by generating JavaBeans that are bound directly to the XML structures, elements and attributes described using Extensibility's product. [...] Extensibility provides designing environments that accelerate the conversion, creation and management of e-business grammars. Thousands of organizations, including industry initiatives such as BizTalk, FpML, HR-XML and Acord use XML Authority(TM) and XMLschema.com to build Internet ready business and industry grammars for next generation e-business applications. Extensibility is a strategic partner with leading companies such as Microsoft, Commerce One, Software AG, Quark and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Based in Chapel Hill, the company was founded in 1998 and is an active member of the W3C -- Schema Working Group and OASIS."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Netfish Launches Products to Supercharge B2B Trading Portals. Leading Portal Operators Adopt Netfish's New Platform for Creating Next-Generation Marketplaces." - " Netfish Technologies, Inc. today announced the creation of a new business unit and a strategic direction to deliver the Netfish XDI eProcess platform, a unique set of business tools and services that enable trading portal operators to transform their current B2B e-commerce marketplaces into next-generation process hubs. Using the XDI eProcess platform, portal operators can quickly move beyond existing buy/sell transactions and begin offering their enterprise customers complete supply chain solutions that integrate catalog-based procurement with back-end product delivery and fulfillment processes. The XDI eProcess platform is the key to automating core business processes, as well as integrating portals with existing internal business systems and data. Netfish today also announced that it had entered into strategic relationships with leading portal operators, Freightquote.com, Postgirot Bank AB, SendOrder.com, RetailMetro.com, WorldCatch.com and Quasar Exchange to deploy the XDI eProcess platform. [...] The XDI eProcess platform offers a complete solution that makes it easy for portal operators to implement and administer advanced B2B services. At the core of the system, the Netfish XDI Process Hub builds on Netfish's back-end integration and collaborative workflow technology to enable end-to-end B2B process integration. The Process Hub is supported by a resource library of industry specific XML business documents, an update service for the resource library, open distributed directory services, end-to-end security for B2B transactions and customizable trading partner profiles and work flows. Combined with the extensive support offered by Netfish's professional service organization, portal operators have everything they need to unify their enterprise customers' incompatible ERP, EAI and EDI systems, facilitate any-to-any electronic business document exchange, ensure end-to-end transaction security over the Internet and automate and manage the workflows for complex B2B transactions."

  • [March 28, 2000] "NeoCore Partners With Bowstreet to Develop High-End XML Index Server. NeoCore's Digital Pattern Processing Technology Enables Blazingly Fast XML Transactions." - "NeoCore, LLC and Bowstreet announce a joint development and marketing initiative to build an XML index server that leverages NeoCore's patented Digital Pattern Processing (DPP) technology for use in association with the Bowstreet(TM) Business Web Factory. The new server is an XML search and retrieval engine designed to deliver the kind of performance, scalability and efficiency necessary to support ultra-high electronic transaction rates in the new economy. Extensible Markup Language, or XML, has become the de facto standard for e-commerce applications. Customers have expressed concern that XML processing will create response time and storage issues on their systems. This product removes those concerns. The jointly developed product will provide a set of database and indexing services that support extremely large XML data sets with instantaneous search access based on any data or tag metadata without regard to data store size. According to Andy Roberts, Bowstreet's chief technology officer, 'One way to think about the power of XML is its heterogeneous and self-describing nature. But these are the very properties you lose when you map XML-encoded data to traditional systems where data is homogeneous. This new product preserves all the benefits of XML, while compressing out all the bloat, and indexing all the data and metadata.' Early performance metrics of the product are significant. Compared to a DOM representation of XML, the NeoCore XML Index Server uses between 10-100 times less memory, and provides searches in milliseconds that would otherwise take hours. The secret to the performance metrics lies in the ability of DPP to reduce deeply structured XML tag sequences to singularities, or Icons. This enables arbitrarily high compression of the XML data, as well as nearly instantaneous lookup time against large XML repositories of a gigabyte or more. Typical applications for the product are trading webs that aggregate large amounts of XML data from different sources. For example, companies are building global trading webs to provide services for locating and purchasing Excess Parts Inventory coming from a large number of product sectors. For these sites, there is no need to convert all the XML data to a common schema. Instead, the trading webs can simply support inventory descriptions in multiple and varying formats, while providing instant lookup across all schemas, to any depth. Under the terms of the agreement, Bowstreet and NeoCore will co-market the NeoCore XML Index Server in conjunction with Bowstreet's Business Web Factory. NeoCore will retain license rights from Bowstreet to distribute 10 session evaluation versions of its Business Web Factory, and will receive royalties on sales of the XML Index Server from Bowstreet." ['NeoCore was founded in 1996 by a group of computing and networking business veterans to bring Digital Pattern Processing to market. Digital Pattern Processing represents a breakthrough in how computers can search for and process data matches. This capability is finding acceptance in network security, network management and multiple other applications, including providing index server solutions for XML networks.]

  • [March 28, 2000] "eXcelon Corporation Ships Stylus 2.0. Industry's First and Only XSL Editor for Building eBusiness Applications Has Enhanced Feature Set and Functionality." - "eXcelon Corporation, a global provider of innovative eBusiness products and services, today announced that Stylus 2.0, a revolutionary eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) editing tool is now shipping. Stylus 2.0 makes it easy for developers to create XSL stylesheets, giving them the freedom to transform XML into HTML for presentation on the Web, and into other XML formats for exchange with business partners. Stylus 2.0 is the industry's first and only professional editing tool for building next-generation eBusiness applications. Stylus 2.0 includes a number of new features, including What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) drag and drop editing. This allows developers to quickly and easily create stylesheets without any knowledge of XSL or HTML tags. The product is compliant with the final XSLT recommendation and has built-in support for international character sets, which makes the product viable for use in Japan and other foreign language countries. Stylus also includes one-click debugging that makes maintaining sophisticated stylesheets possible for the first time. Stylus 2.0 is available now on the eXcelon Corp. Web site at www.exceloncorp.com. The product costs $199. Stylus 2.0 is available both as a stand-alone tool, and as part of the tool set for eXcelon 2.0 Dynamic Application Platform (DAP), the powerful platform for building and deploying XML-based eBusiness applications."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Arbortext Introduces 'Extend' ASP Deployment Support for e-Content Software. FutureLink's Server-Based Computing Services Enable Reduced Deployment Time, Increased Flexibility." - "Arbortext, Inc., a leading provider of XML-based e-Content software, today announced the release of Extend, a set of software and services that support Application Service Provider (ASP) deployment of its XML-based e-Content management system. Today's announcement makes Arbortext the first company to support browser-based use of content management software that allows customers to create, personalize, deliver and share rich business-critical content. Arbortext has identified FutureLink, an application service provider and a supplier of server-based computing solutions to help implement the rollout of Extend. Extend enables companies to utilize Arbortext software who might otherwise be unable to do so because of out-dated equipment, lack of technical support, or cost of ownership. Arbortext's software can either be hosted on its customer's servers or on a third-party Web hosting service, and is accessible using a standard browser or a thin client. The software runs on a variety of desktops, including Windows, Macintosh, DOS, UNIX, Java and OS/2 Warp."

  • [March 28, 2000] "IBM Introduces Open, End-to-End B2B and E-marketplaces Strategy More than 10,000 B2B Customer Engagements." - "IBM today announced its software strategy to help businesses quickly connect to customers, suppliers, business partners and e-marketplaces. As part of the announcement, IBM introduced its WebSphere B2B Integrator software, which combines technologies from IBM's integration and transaction software and is based on open XML technology. WebSphere B2B Integrator will be built on IBM's WebSphere application server, its industry-leading MQSeries messaging software and open XML technology for the exchange of e-contracts called tpaML. IBM provides the leading software in the industry in support of each of the key areas for B2B e-commerce. For example, IBM software systems support 30 billion transactions a day; industry analysts rate IBM's integration software as the industry leader; and IDC rated IBM's e-commerce software as the license share leader in the industry. IBM's B2B software strategy takes advantage of this experience and technology leadership. IBM's open, B2B software strategy enables businesses to integrate their own computing systems -- linking operations such as supply chain management and logistics -- with their trading partners' systems. For this reason, IBM's middleware forms the software platform for IBM's recent alliance with i2 and Ariba, which adds procurement and supply chain management integration. Other business partners like Siebel, MAPICS, Synquest and others add to this open scalable integration capability. The strategy is based on IBM's unique experience in B2B, as the company has already worked with more than 10,000 customers of all sizes, including Goodyear North America, Staples, Chemdex, SciQuest, e-Chemicals and a wide variety of others around the world. Unlike other piece-part vendors, IBM's strategy incorporates a complete selection of software to support the two major components of B2B e-commerce: core B2B processes and the integration of those processes with those of trading partners. Businesses need Web-based applications and middleware to run their core processes -- such as the buying and selling of goods and services, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain Management (SCM) and others. In addition, businesses need software and services to integrate with trading partners."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Oracle Adds Schema Processor to XML Developer's Kit to Speed Development of Online Exchanges. New Component Gives Business-To-Business Application Developers Access to Emerging Standard for XML Data Integration." - "Oracle Corp., the largest provider of software for e-business, today announced the Oracle XML Schema Processor for Java, the latest component in the Oracle XML Developer's Kit (Oracle XDK). The Oracle XML Schema Processor automatically ensures the validity of Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents and data used in e-business applications, including online exchanges. The new component supports both simple and complex data types for the processing and validation of XML Schemas, and is based on the latest working draft of the XML Schema standard from the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C). The XML Schema Processor is the latest addition to the Oracle XML Developer's Kit, and is planned to conform to the final W3C XML Schema specifications once available. The Oracle XDK provides a comprehensive set of components for quickly and easily delivering XML-enabled applications for e-business. The XDK includes XML parsers for Java, C, C++ and PL/SQL, XSLT Processor, XML Class Generator, XML Transviewer JavaBeans and the new XML Schema Processor. Developers can use the Oracle XDK components on the client, application server and database tiers of their application. When run inside Oracle8i(tm), data-intensive XML applications can achieve optimal scalability and performance. The latest release of the Oracle XDK can be immediately down loaded free-of-charge from Oracle Technology Network (OTN). In the past four months, over 15,000 XML developers worldwide have downloaded the Oracle XDK from OTN."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Oracle Announces Industry's First Development Tool With End-to-End XML Support. Latest Release of Oracle JDeveloper Will Equip Application Developers To Lead Business-to-Business Exchange Revolution." - "Oracle Corp., the largest provider of software for ebusiness, today announced the latest release of Oracle JDeveloper with Business Components for Java. This latest version offers end-to-end support for Extensible Markup Language (XML), a foundation technology for business-to-business exchanges. With JDeveloper Version 3.1, Oracle is the first to deliver an integrated, full-featured application development tool for building and deploying applications in Java and XML. Developers will be able to use JDeveloper to build, debug and deploy Internet applications that create and process XML data and documents. In just four months, almost 50,000 developers have downloaded the prior version of JDeveloper from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN). Oracle JDeveloper 3.1 simplifies the task of working with Java application code and XML data and documents at the same time. It features color-coded syntax highlighting for XML and built-in syntax checking for XML and Extensible Style Sheet Language (XSL). With the included XML Structured Query Language (XSQL) Pages support, developers will be able to edit and debug Oracle XSQL Pages, Java programs that can query the database and return formatted XML, or insert XML into the database without writing code. The integrated servlet engine will allow developers to view the XML output generated by their Java code in the same environment as their program source, making it easy to do rapid, iterative development and testing. JDeveloper's tight integration with Oracle8i and Oracle Application Server will also help improve productivity by allowing developers to remotely debug Java/XML programs running on either server. JDeveloper will also allow Java developers to produce, develop and debug multi-tier Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) applications and remotely debug Java components in any web server or application server through its support of the J2EE Platform Debugging Interface (JDI). The tool also includes Oracle's XML Parser for Java Extensible Style Sheet Language Transformation (XSLT) Processor, and related JavaBeans components that make it easy to do drag-and-drop XML development."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Novell Announces Open Beta of DirXML Technology. Links and Manages Business-Critical Data Across One Net." - Extending the foundation of its DENIM architecture, Novell, Inc. today announced the open beta availability of the DirXML technology. Scheduled for general release this summer, DirXML enables organizations to easily link and manage user profiles across divergent platforms and networks. As a result, organizations can reduce network management and administration costs while helping to build and maintain loyalty among business clients and partners by simplifying management of common data. Leveraging Novell's industry-leading eDirectory, DirXML seamlessly links and manages all places where user profile information is stored, including software applications, network operating systems, databases and network devices. DirXML is the first directory-based technology that not only brings all data together, but also keeps control of information with the individual departments that own the data. This enables organizations to distribute data ownership while centralizing information availability. DirXML connects data without the need to modify existing software, thereby allowing organizations to build on their existing technology investments. And by providing centralized control over profile data, organizations can react quickly to business changes and reduce the need to hire staff to administer multiple user account directories and databases. DirXML opens up a variety of opportunities for enhanced solutions that extend the power of a full-service directory. DirXML will be a key technology in Novell Consulting's eBusiness practices and ties together objects from multiple existing applications and directories to provide highly secure eBusiness solutions for supply-chain partners and a variety of organizations across the Net."

  • [March 28, 2000] "Novell BrainShare 2000 Announcements." Today, during Novell's 16th annual BrainShare. conference, the company announced new products and services that support its Net services strategy of securing and powering Net-based business. The announcements include: (1) "Novell Announces Blueprint for Net Economy Software" --All Novell products will now be mapped against a new architectural model, code-named DENIM (Directory-enabled Net Infrastructure Model), that provides a customer-centric, eBusiness-focused framework for deploying directory-enabled products and services. (2) "Novell Announces Open Beta of DirXML Technology Links and Manages Business Critical Data Across One Net" -- Novell today announced the open beta availability for the DirXML technology, enabling organizations to easily link and manage user profiles across divergent platforms and networks. (3) "Novell Announces Immediate Availability of Enterprise-Ready Product, instantme; Free Instant Messaging Client Lets Users Communicate in Real-Time on the Net" --Targeted at businesses, instantme extends the ability for users to communicate in real-time with partners, suppliers and customers. . . ."

  • [March 24, 2000] "Aah ... XML (and Paris) in June. GCA Announces Details of XML Europe." - "The Graphic Communications Association (GCA) has announced details of its upcoming XML Europe 2000 Conference. 'The Many Faces of XML' will take place from 12-16 June 2000 at Le Palais Des Congres in Paris, France. 'Whether you have been using XML and SGML and need to know the latest developments, or you are new to the use of XML and want a complete picture,' explained GCA President Norman Scharpf, 'XML Europe 2000 is the multi-faceted event you should attend. This is the 18th GCA conference to be held in Europe. GCA has long been a pioneer in markup technologies, and our experience and expertise make this conference the premier international XML event.' Full- and half-day tutorials will help XML newcomers and will provide opportunities for experts to explore key subjects in more depth. Up to six concurrent tracks running throughout the conference's four days, as well as the eighteen (18) concurrent tutorials held on Monday 12 June, will examine the many faces of XML and related standards. Experts in a range of technical and industry areas will discuss traditional uses of these standards (documents, data, etc.) and newer applications such as eBusiness and the use of XML to describe software processes. The conference will focus in part on core technologies. Delegates can learn more on the status of standards promulgated by ISO, W3C, OASIS and IDEAlliance. Examples include the DOM, Schemas, Topic Maps, XSL, XLink and XPointer. A particular area of interest will be progress on the vocabulary and registration work undertaken by XML.org. There are also applications based on core technologies, including how XML is being applied to specific vertical industries (education, finance, health, insurance, news services, publishing, and travel.) and to topics that affect many industries, such as eBusiness, graphics, knowledge management, and software engineering. This year's opening plenary begins with Jeanne El Andaloussi of AIS, who will introduce a roadmap to the wide array of foundation, horizontal, and vertical application standards. Two large XML users will provide insight into how XML is changing their businesses. Christian Lienert of SAP will discuss SAP's current use of XML and vision for its future in eCommerce. Kenneth M. Brooks, Jr. of Barnes and Noble will discuss the use of XML in trade book publishing, where the company is merging two types of workflow to create a highly successful digital printing operation using XML."

  • [March 24, 2000] "INTERLINQ Partners With Freddie Mac to Utilize XML Standard. Mortgage Lenders Can Expect More Efficient E-commerce, Loan Processing." - INTERLINQ Software Corporation today expanded its partnership with Freddie Mac by supporting the XML standard when using Loan Prospector. on the Internet. By using a common denominator, lenders and brokers can maintain better control and efficiency over loan data sent to Freddie Mac for automated underwriting and information services. Once the standards are fully implemented later this year, lenders and brokers can use INTERLINQ's MortgageWare. loan origination and processing solutions to access Freddie Mac's XML-enabled Loan Prospector on the Internet. Under the partnership, INTERLINQ and Freddie Mac will continue to work closely to deliver increased e-commerce to lenders, brokers and wholesalers. 'Having a common XML underwriting standard will allow Freddie Mac to work with technology companies such as INTERLINQ to bring enhancements to our automated underwriting service more quickly and easily,' said Jim Cotton, Freddie Mac's vice president of customer support. 'Our lending customers will now be able to receive program updates and enhancements immediately by simply accessing them via the Internet, enjoying significant time and cost savings as a result.' Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by Congress in 1970 to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders in support of home ownership and rental housing. Freddie Mac purchases mortgages from lenders and packages them into securities that are sold to investors. Over the years, Freddie Mac has opened doors for one in six homebuyers in America. INTERLINQ Software Corporation, established in 1982, is a leading provider of technology that helps organizations effectively manage complex, information-intensive business transactions. The company's mortgage technology division provides business solutions to approximately 2,000 financial institutions at 7,000 sites. Customers include banks, savings institutions, mortgage banks, mortgage brokers, and credit unions, including a number of the top 100 originators. INTERLINQ's enterprise technology division provides process-centered, enterprise application integration (EAI) solutions both directly and through third-party application developers, OEMs and system integrators."

  • [March 24, 2000] "Suppliers Demonstrate Implementation of Standards Developed by NEMI's Virtual Factory Project. Netfish Technologies and Agile Software Demonstrate New Technology Aimed At Automating and Standardizing the Exchange of Technical Engineering And Manufacturing Data for Improved Data Integrity and Shorter Cycle Times." - "The National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI) today announced that its Virtual Factory Information Interchange Project (VFIIP) has successfully demonstrated the use of a candidate NEMI/IPC standard to support the electronic exchange of engineering and manufacturing information across the supply chain. Two project participants -- Netfish Technologies, Inc., a leader in XML-based business-to-business e-commerce solutions, and Agile Software, a leading supplier of business-to-business collaborative manufacturing commerce solutions -- used the proposed VFIIP Product Data Exchange (PDX) standard to exchange data over the Internet in a simulated transaction between an OEM and an electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider. 'This demonstration highlights the benefits of automating and standardizing the exchange of data within the electronics manufacturing supply chain. It also shows the effectiveness of a collaborative effort among companies within the supply chain to develop and implement standards that will benefit the industry as a whole,'' stated Jim McElroy, executive director and CEO of NEMI. 'Even though the Virtual Factory Project is a relatively new project, we already have a couple of supplier companies that are beginning to implement the standards that the group is generating.' The demonstration, shown at IPC's recent Electronics Assembly Process Exhibition and Conference (APEX), utilized PDX to transfer a complete product definition package across the Internet in a simulated exchange between an OEM and an EMS provider. The PDX standard (IPC 2571) was developed by the VFIIP team to facilitate transactions between supply chain partners such as quoting, production, product configuration, test and kit interactions. PDX is one of a suite of IPC standards aimed at enabling a robust and flexible mechanism for supply chain communications." See also [from March 06, 2000] "NEMI Launches 'Virtual Factory' Project to Standardize Information Exchange Across the Supply Chain." ['NEMI has become a coalition partner of RosettaNet and is collaborating with the group on development of standard electronic business interfaces. The Virtual Factory Project will utilize the structure and methodology of RosettaNet to develop and deploy solutions. RosettaNet will promote the use of the data interchange standards resulting from collaborative efforts between the two groups.'] For PDX description, see "Product Definition Exchange (PDX)."

  • [March 24, 2000] "recruitsoft.com Joins HR-XML Consortium." - recruitsoft.com, creator of the world's most advanced Internet-based Hiring Management System (HMS), announced that it has joined the HR-XML Consortium. This newly-formed non-profit organization is dedicated to the development and promotion of standardized HR-related extensible markup language (XML) vocabularies designed to enable the worldwide exchange of HR data. The HR-XML Consortium is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and promotion of standardized human-resources-related XML vocabularies for enabling e-commerce and inter-company exchanges of human resources data worldwide. The Consortium is open to all interested parties, but membership is targeted to software vendors, employers, HR service suppliers, non-profit HR-related associations, and human resource professionals." For description, see "HR-XML Consortium."

  • [March 24, 2000] "Pinacor Launches Seamless Business-to-Business Reseller Platform for the Digital Marketplace. Distributor delivers Pinacor Connect -- first XML-based e-business platform for real-time order management systems." - "Pinacor, Inc., a leading distributor of technology products and services, has launched Pinacor Connect, a seamless XML-based order management platform for resellers. Pinacor Connect provides a back-end systems integration platform that creates a direct Internet link between Pinacor and its resellers for product pricing, availability, status and order placement capabilities. The e-business platform is full-featured, flexible, easy to implement, and available free of charge for Pinacor's resellers. Pinacor is the first full-line technology distributor to implement a complete real-time XML-based order management tool for resellers. Pinacor Connect, built on technology created by Eleris, a B2B e-commerce software company, extends the company's strategy to use e-business tools to streamline technology procurement for customers, thereby reducing costs increasing supply chain efficiencies. Pinacor Connect's business-to-business XML platform integrates with resellers' order management systems to create a real-time Internet link to supply chain information without using a Web browser. Pinacor Connect automatically transmits requests for product information straight from the reseller's standard order management system through the Internet to Pinacor and back, with no manual input required. The XML platform provides back-end integration into Pinacor's comprehensive digital marketplace, which supplies information about available inventory at multiple warehouses and procurement sources. Resellers can also use Pinacor Connect to update their own Web storefronts with real-time product price and availability information. Pinacor Connect uses Extensible Markup Language (XML), the common standard for secure electronic commerce transactions. XML has been embraced as a standard platform for e-business transactions by the industry's major IT vendors and users, including IBM and Microsoft. XML's common language interface enables Pinacor Connect to reach beyond the reseller's system to create visibility into the entire supply chain pipeline. Resellers can implement Pinacor Connect into their end-user customers' locations for single touch order management. In addition, Pinacor's suppliers will soon be able to use Pinacor Connect to process real-time order invoices, and Pinacor's inventory financing partners will be able to process real-time reseller credit approvals."

  • [March 23, 2000] "IFX Forum's Global Initiative Creates XML Architecture for Online Financial Transactions." - "The Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX) Forum, established to integrate interoperable and online financial transactions around the world, is accelerating the widespread adoption of Extensible Markup Language (XML) message specifications, ultimately providing the retail consumer with enhanced financial services products and value added applications. Released early this year, the IFX Forum's proposed business message specification, Version 1.0.1, will complete an initial 60-day public review. The IFX Version 1.0.1 specification, with accompanying document type definition (DTD), the XML overview and data dictionary is scheduled for release March 24, 2000, for a final 30-day member and public review with approval expected April 26, 2000. The IFX Forum is developing specifications that facilitate such financial services as global online banking and bill presentment and payment within the financial services market. An active player in the insurance industry, the IFX Forum formed a cooperative relationship with ACORD, the nonprofit insurance standards organization. ACORD sits on the IFX Forum Steering Committee and currently contributes property and casualty business messages based on the IFX XML architecture. In addition to the insurance work group, the IFX Forum is comprised of four additional work groups, including electronic bill presentment and payment, XML implementation, server-to-server, and business banking. Currently under development are the investments and securities and loan applications work groups along with the Open Financial Exchange (OFX)-to-IFX conversion task group, charged with identifying migration issues. The IFX Forum boasts an active Board of Directors, comprised of leading e-commerce representatives from AT&T Corp., Bank of America, BITS, CheckFree Corporation, Citigroup, N.A., EDS, FleetBoston Financial, IBM Corporation, Integrion Financial Network, Intuit Inc., Just in Time Solutions, Microsoft Corporation, PaineWebber Incorporated, S1 Corporation, and Wells Fargo Company, and receives managerial support from the Data Interchange Standards Association. The IFX Forum, open for worldwide participation, was founded to provide a variety of benefits for financial services companies and their customers and focuses on promoting the development and adoption of the IFX specification. The IFX Forum members develop open and interoperable specifications that meet the Financial Services Industry business requirements for serving consumer and corporate customers. The mission of the IFX Forum's open membership is to expedite the development and implementation of the IFX specification, which defines the business message format for the electronic exchange of data. Membership in the IFX Forum is open to organizations from around the world, such as financial institutions, banks, brokerages, billers, insurance companies and vendors." For description and references, see "Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX)."

  • [March 23, 2000] "eXcelon Corporation Joins B2B Industry Leaders in OAGI Vendor Challenge. Company to Demonstrate Interoperability of eXcelon B2B Product Family with OAGI Standards." - "eXcelon Corp., a global provider of innovative eBusiness products and services, today announced its participation in The Open Applications Group (OAGI) Vendor Challenge. As a participant in the OAGI Vendor Challenge, eXcelon Corporation will demonstrate the interoperability of its B2B solutions with OAGI standards and will highlight its expertise in enabling companies to seamlessly exchange business data with partners and customers. The OAGI Customer Council has issued this challenge in an effort to encourage vendors to deliver e-commerce solutions that are interoperable, standards-based, and can be implemented in the near term. Members of the OAGI Customer Council, including AT&T Wireless, Boeing, DHL, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Ingersoll-Rand, Kraft Foods, Lockheed Martin and Lucent Technologies, plan to implement B2B e-commerce strategies using products that support OAGI standards. Vendors who complete the challenge by June 30, 2000 will showcase their products at Canopy International's eBusiness integration laboratory in Boston. Members of the press, industry analysts, and other interested parties will be invited to view the live demonstration. The products will also be shown at exhibitions and conferences to be announced later. eXcelon Corporation's B2B product family consists of three components. The eXcelon Dynamic Application Platform 2.0, is a powerful XML-based development platform for building and deploying dynamic eBusiness applications, enabling universal exchange, aggregation and management of business content between corporations and trading communities. This powerful product aggregates, personalizes and delivers business content, while at the same time linking buyers and suppliers with one another. eXcelon B2B Integration Server delivers dynamic B2B solutions for enterprises that want to broaden their partner base and integrate these partners with new and existing business processes. eXcelon eSolutions is a suite of frameworks and components for vertical industry solutions. Built upon the eXcelon B2B Integration Server, these solutions target the insurance, retail, manufacturing and telecommunications industries."

  • [March 22, 2000] "First American Supports New Technology For Information Exchange. Works to Standardize Industry Definitions for XML." - "The First American Financial Corporation, a leading provider of business information and related products and services, today announced that it supports standards proposed by the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA) for the adoption of Extensible Markup Language (XML) by the mortgage industry. A proponent of XML standardization, First American has been working closely with the MBA, through the company's participation in the Mortgage Information Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO), to develop a common language for the technology that will allow centralized data to be accessed over the Web. XML is much more flexible than its hypertext cousin HTML, and allows for greater accuracy in describing, categorizing, customizing and delivering information online. Standardized XML will facilitate business-to-business electronic commerce in the industry. It uses a common vocabulary to describe the data elements throughout the online mortgage transaction process, from the loan application to processing and closing. Each of these stages in the transaction can have different data formats. First American and the MBA recognized that a coordinated effort was needed to establish an XML industry standard, because XML without a standard could develop into numerous company-by-company standards. First American has been recognized as a top e-business innovator for its approach to implementing new technologies to meet the rapidly changing needs of its customers. The company currently offers three multi-product systems for electronically accessing critical business data. FASTWeb, an Internet-based product ordering and delivery system with more than 48,000 registered users; FASTDirect, a direct connection between a customer's loan origination system and First American's products and services; and FASTWin, a Windows-based desktop application for product ordering via dial-up modem connection, will all leverage XML standards to provide business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce solutions." For description and references, see (1) "XML-MP: XML Mortgage Partners Framework" and (2) "Mortgage Bankers Association of America XML Workgroup."

  • [March 22, 2000] "Netfish to Offer Built-in Interoperability Using Open Standard XML Messages for OAGI Challenge. Netfish Supports OAGI With Its Industry-Leading XDI Server, Easily Handling Translation to Any New Protocol. - Netfish Technologies, Inc., a leader in XML-based business-to-business e-commerce solutions, today announced that it will join with 19 other software vendors to meet the e-commerce interoperability challenge, issued by end users of the Open Applications Group Inc. (OAGI). The Interoperability Customer Council of the Open Applications Group challenged the vendor members of the OAGI to implement out-of-the-box plug-and-play capability to communicate and interoperate with each other's products in business-to-business e-commerce scenarios using the OAGI's standard XML-based messages. Netfish will meet the OAGI challenge through its industry-leading XDI Server product, which enables companies to use any protocol (RosettaNet PIPs, OAGI BODs, etc.) on a per-transaction basis within the same trading partner. 'Netfish is in full support of the OAGI Vendor Challenge, and XDI Server's ability to easily support this new protocol is an example of XDI Server's 'any-to-any' translation ability,' said Patrick Gannon, vice president of marketing and strategic programs for Netfish. 'Our customers will benefit by being able to communicate more efficiently between applications when sending and receiving OAGI business standard messages.' The business process-based Open Applications Group Integration Specification (OAGIS) Release 6.2 contains the largest set of Extensible Markup Language (XML) Document Type Definition (DTD) files in the world and goes the farthest towards defining the 'digital dial tone' that organizations require to do business in the emerging eWorld. There are currently at least 50 live sites running OAGIS-based XML messages. These sites include many kinds of integration, including eBusiness, Logistics, Financials, and Banking. These OAGI vendor members responded to the OAGI Vendor Challenge that several end-user companies issued, including both OAGI members and non-members; AT&T Wireless, Boeing, DHL, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Ingersoll-Rand, Kraft Foods, Lockheed Martin and Lucent Technologies." See "Open Applications Group."

  • [March 22, 2000] "OnWeb Integrator Optimizes Business-to-Business Applications with XML Support. Customers Reaping Benefits of Leveraging OnWeb Integrator's Support for XML to Enhance eBusiness Strategies." - "NetManage, Inc., a leading supplier of eBusiness access and application integration solutions, today announced that OnWeb Integrator is now being used with XML to provide corporations wiTH standardized and efficient ways of exchanging information between business-to-business applications. OnWeb Integrator's unique business logic engine and superior information access capabilities can use XML technology to standardize management and distribution of information from application to application. OnWeb Integrator's support of XML is being leveraged by several of NetManage's customers to optimize and enhance their eBusiness strategies. J C Bamford Excavators Ltd., a leading supplier of heavy construction machinery, is using OnWeb Integrator with XML in its Web-based dealer management application to quickly exchange data, user sign-ons, dealer codes and dual committed transactions with a separate supporting application. Other NetManage customers who are using the advantages of XML combined with OnWeb Integrator to deliver best-of-breed business-to-business Web applications include one of the world's leading travel services company as well as one of the world's leading automotive manufacturers. OnWeb Integrator allows corporations to integrate heterogeneous data sources into new eBusiness Web applications for the supply and demand chain. In addition to presenting integrated information using HTML or via its COM/ActiveX and JavaBean interfaces, OnWeb Integrator can also present information to other applications in XML format."

    • [March 22, 2000] "HEDNA's Hotel Distribution Expertise Unites with OpenTravel Alliance Initiatives." - "In a overwhelming rally of support, the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) joined forces with the OpenTravel Alliance (OTA) to provide a foundation for the hotel contribution to OTA's first draft specification that addresses the complex subject of customer profiles. OTA's version 1 utilized the Hotel Descriptive Content Specifications, created by the Distribution Action Committee of HEDNA. Representing HEDNA membership and maintaining an observer status on the OTA Board of Directors, HEDNA has joined the Alliance and will continue to influence the direction of distribution technology and standards for hotel companies. OTA's version 1, developed in under 10 months and released for 30-day public review Feb. 29, uses Extensible Markup Language (XML) the new high powered language designed for e-business. Representing the specifications for customer profiles, version 1 cuts across all sectors of the travel industry, including hotels, airlines, car rentals and other travel services. Developing version 1 required OTA to work with groups, such as HEDNA, to create a common vocabulary for the travel industry, taking advantage of the flexible nature of XML that allows for later growth if needed. OTA, which only began in May 1999, now has over 100 members representing influential names in all sectors of the travel industry, including air, car rental, hotel, travel agencies, technology providers and related suppliers. The Alliance is comprised of five working groups air, car, hotel, leisure supplier, and non-supplier together with an interoperability committee to coordinate their efforts. OTA defined its open messages with XML, which makes it possible to exchange business data seamlessly among different systems, companies, and industries over the World Wide Web." See "OpenTravel Alliance (OTA)."

  • [March 22, 2000] "Data Interchange Standards Association Joins Forces with Hotel Distribution Industry." - "The Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) teamed with the Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA) as HEDNA continues to influence and accelerate the direction of distribution technology and standards for hotel companies. HEDNA becomes the latest client in DISA's rapidly growing Collaborative Services division, which supports the exponential growth of the booming e-commerce marketplace, embracing an array of business-to-business technologies. Providing an executive director, management administration and meeting logistics for HEDNA, DISA will also host its web site. HEDNA, comprised of 215 of the most influential companies operating within the hotel distribution industry, is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1991. Promoting and improving the use of travel agent computer systems, HEDNA seeks to automate and streamline the hotel reservation process through the use of GDS and other electronic means. DISA, a Virginia-based not-for-profit association, is the leading provider of educational and networking forums on e-business. Promoting e-commerce in a global marketplace, DISA provides technical and management services to standards and XML specification development organizations, including the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12, OTA, the Interactive Financial Exchange Forum, the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization, and the XML/EDI Group. DISA's affiliation with HEDNA, EC User Groups and emerging initiatives around the world facilitates an interchange of e-commerce topics hitting the marketplace." See "ANSI ASC X12/XML and DISA."

  • [March 21, 2000] "Envera 'B4B' Marketplace Launched by a Global Consortium of Chemical And Petroleum Companies." - "An international group of chemical and petroleum companies announced today agreement to pursue the creation of Envera, a global electronic-marketplace for B2B transactions and services. Envera will enable cross industry transactions and efficiencies over the Web. Envera calls its network of systems and services 'e-Business For Business' ('B4B'). Sponsorship by a consortium of international companies rather than by a single industry entity is a key component of the venture. 'No single industry player can credibly sponsor a global marketplace intended to provide a level playing field for all,' said Robert Mooney, Envera Chief Executive Officer. Based on the Latin word for 'in truth,' Envera has been designed from the start as a 'customer-focused,' neutral site where all industry participants can transact business with assurance of the network's neutrality and confidentiality. Envera will be a true business-for-business site, enabling a full range of business transactions between trading members (vendors, customers and suppliers in existing supply chains), and complimented by links to global financial institutions, shipping companies and other key service providers. Expecting to be operational by third quarter, Envera is designed to integrate and network chemical and petroleum process companies, and not for spot auctions. The goal is to empower members' core businesses, from improving efficiencies in manufacturing to integrating markets and services worldwide. The Envera solution is based on XML standards which will enable participating companies to enjoy on-line efficiencies regardless of their IT sophistication. To develop this standards-based open marketplace, Envera is in discussions with leading technology providers including IBM, XML Solutions, webMethods and Oracle."

  • [March 21, 2000] "webMethods Plays Strategic Role in Envera 'B4B' Marketplace Launch. Global Consortium of Chemical and Petroleum Companies will Rely on webMethods B2B to Integrate Chemical Trading Exchange." - "webMethods, Inc., a leading provider of business-to-business integration (B2Bi) solutions, today announced that it is a strategic participant with an international group of chemical and petroleum companies to pursue the creation of Envera, a global electronic-marketplace for B2B transactions and services. Envera's network of systems and services, 'e-Business For Business' ('B4B'), will enable cross industry transactions and efficiencies over the Web. Leveraging the open architecture of webMethods B2B, Envera will integrate customers and suppliers in a seamless, real-time trading exchange. Sponsorship by a consortium of international companies rather than by a single industry entity is a key component of the venture. 'No single industry player can credibly sponsor a global marketplace intended to provide a level playing field for all,' said Robert Mooney, Envera chief executive officer. Based on the Latin word for 'in truth,' Envera has been designed from the start as a 'customer-focused,' neutral site where all industry participants can transact their business with assurance of the network's neutrality and confidentiality. Envera will be a true business-for-business site enabling a full range of business transactions between trading members (vendors, customers and suppliers in existing supply chains) and complemented by links to global financial institutions, shipping companies and other key service providers. Envera is designed to integrate and network chemical and petroleum process companies doing business, and not for spot auctions. The goal is to empower Envera members' core businesses, from improving efficiencies in manufacturing to integrating markets and services worldwide. webMethods provides a comprehensive solution that allows organizations to effectively realize their B2B e-commerce strategies. Through broad support of open standards and protocols, such as XML, RosettaNet, FpML, cXML, OBI, OAG, ACORD, Microsoft BizTalk and legacy EDI, the webMethods B2B family of products enables companies to develop fully integrated, Internet-based networks with their major trading partners. Additional participants in the Envera launch include PricewaterhouseCoopers who will be providing Envera with e-business consulting support, and First Union who will be helping Envera identify financial services offerings. Additionally, the Envera team is exploring a wide range of opportunities with "best in class" service providers in the areas of logistics and IT. To date, discussions on potential service offerings have included BDP International Inc., a leading provider of global transportation and logistics services to the chemical industry; Miller Transporters, Inc., a national trucking firm, and Miller Intermodal Logistics Services, Inc., a global container and logistics company; and technology providers IBM, Oracle and other major e-business marketplace enablers."

  • [March 21, 2000] "ebXML Initiative to Deliver Its Initial XML Interoperability Specifications in May 2000." - The ebXML Initiative [designed] to create a single global XML framework solution -- a joint effort of the United Nation/CEFACT and OASIS -- continued to attract the participation of major industry standards organizations and companies from around the world at its second working meeting in Orlando, FL, USA. 'ebXML may very well prove to be a major event of the new millennium, revolutionizing how business transactions are tracked, affecting worldwide impacts, removing paper from the process, and by empowering people to create whole new work models,' said David RR Webber, North American Chair of the XML/EDI Group. Others expressed the belief that the ebXML Initiative is the only chance this decade to establish an international electronic commerce standard. Participants representing 14 countries, 83 companies, government agencies and several national and international standards organizations extended to nearly 500 by virtual participation. Lending their knowledge and expertise to the ebXML Initiative are representatives from IBM, Sun Microsystems, Commerce One, Dun & Bradstreet, Oracle, Visa International, General Motors joined with individuals representing Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and United Kingdom. A full listing of countries, companies and organizations represented is at the end of this document. The energy and enthusiasm of the on-site participants was evident in all eight Project Teams' efforts. Each project team committed to an aggressive schedule to deliver the components of the ebXML framework. Specification components of the ebXML Framework to be developed between the Orlando meeting and submitted for approval at the next meeting to be held in Brussels include the following: (1) ebXML Requirements Specification; (2) ebXML Conceptual Architecture Specification; (3) ebXML Message Structure and Headers Specification; (4) ebXML Core Components Specification. The work of the ebXML project teams is carried out via extensive listserv discussions and regular teleconferences between each face-to-face meeting. Proposed specifications will be submitted for public comment via the ebXML listserv and the ebXML web site. Participation is open to anyone wishing to contribute to this critical and exciting initiative. Interested organizations and individuals can learn more about the effort, including details on how to get involved, by visiting the ebXML Initiative web site at http://www.ebxml.org. The next meeting is scheduled for 8-12 May 2000, in Brussels, Belgium. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for 7-11 August in the United States and 6-11 November in Tokyo, Japan. Details for the Brussels meeting are now available at the ebXML web site." For references and background, see "Electronic Business XML Initiative (ebXML)."

  • [March 21, 2000] "Webb Launches AccelX Site Builder 2.0. Switchboard to Use Latest in XML/XSLT Standards Technology." - "Webb Interactive Services Inc., a leading application provider for local commerce, today announced the general availability of its latest version of AccelX Site Builder. The technology will be used as a foundation for website publishing services with one of the Internet's largest aggregators of small businesses -- Switchboard Incorporated (Nasdaq: SWBD - news). AccelX Site builder is the industry's first XML-based technology for efficiently creating template-driven websites for small businesses. Unlike traditional HTML-based website publishing applications, AccelX Site Builder creates an XML database of all content and leverages this content for enhanced shopping, promotion and marketplace services. AccelX Site Builder 2.0 represents the next generation of web site production and utilizes the latest in XML/XSLT standards and technology. This gives AccelX Site Builder 2.0 the ability to quickly build complex, multi-page web sites. The XML/XSLT architecture also allows small businesses to interact and communicate with their customers to offer new enhancements like the ability to include specials or coupons on their web sites. The product encapsulates rules of professional graphics design, allowing high quality sites to be generated by following simple questionnaires that can be completed in minutes. Simplifying the website building process even further streamlines production and provides some of the lowest cost of sale in the industry for the small business aggregator. Designed from the ground-up for the small business, AccelX Site Builder is a component of the AccelX platform; Webb's upcoming suite of commerce services that provide small businesses with unparalleled leverage of the Internet through innovations in commerce publishing, customer relationship management and marketplace exchanges."

  • [March 21, 2000] "eXcelon Corporation Announces Partnership With XMLSolutions Corporation." - "eXcelon Corporation, a global provider of innovative eBusiness products and services, today announced a partnership with XMLSolutions. Under the terms of the agreement, eXcelon Corp. will incorporate XMLSolutions' XEDI Translator with its B2B Integration Server, allowing companies to extend and expand their existing electronic data interchange (EDI). eXcelon Corp.'s B2B Integration Server gives companies the freedom to build and leverage current EDI solutions, while at the same time extending and augmenting the solutions in ways that allow companies to have richer interactions with new and existing customers. XMLSolutions' Java-based XEDI Translator uses completely open standards to seamlessly integrate with EDI trading systems. Through this integration, it is possible to extend existing EDI systems to non-EDI trading partners, thus allowing a much larger number of companies to take part in Internet-based trading communities. The strategic partnership enables eXcelon Corp. to resell the XEDI Translator with its B2B Integration Server, thereby extending its power and allowing companies with significant investments in EDI systems to further tap into the power of XML. In turn, smaller suppliers who are unable or unwilling to use traditional EDI can participate in B2B transactions over the Internet."

  • [March 21, 2000] "POET eCS to Further Simplification of eCatalog Management by Adding Microsoft BizTalk Capability. POET Software Announces Support for the Microsoft BizTalk Framework." - "POET Software announced today that it will incorporate support for the Microsoft BizTalk Framework into its eCatalog Suite (eCS). POET eCS is an out-of-the-box electronic catalog solution for extracting, managing, and distributing supplier catalog data over the Internet for B2B eCommerce. By making eCS compatible with the BizTalk specification, POET becomes one of the first data management providers to utilize an XML message-passing approach to tie eProcurement systems together. Further, supporting BizTalk in POET's eCatalog Suite will simplify the management of electronic catalog data for suppliers to eProcurement systems, guaranteeing secure exchange of data between online trading partners, and enhancing the ROI of integrating such systems. POET eCS simplifies supply-side management of electronic catalogs by automating many of the resource intensive steps required to assemble, manage, cleanse, customize, transform and transmit eCatalogs to buyers and Net Market Makers. Unlike B2C eCommerce, B2B requires significant customization of the data for each buyer and Net Market Maker; this is where POET eCS excels. POET eCS enables the supplier to automatically customize the eCatalog content for each buyer through a rule-based solution. POET eCS provides suppliers with a self-service solution for all their eCatalog needs, including transformation into any XML dialect or legacy data format allowing access to any form of XML regardless of origin. The Microsoft BizTalk Framework provides an open mechanism for exchanging XML messages between systems, simplifying integration and the exchange of data within and between organizations. In the case of eProcurement systems, BizTalk can simplify the exchange of electronic catalog data between buyers, sellers, and B2B Net Market Makers."

  • [March 21, 2000] Charles F. Goldfarb Launches Web Site Dedicated to XML News and Education." - "Charles F. Goldfarb, the father of markup languages and author of The XML Handbook (Prentice-Hall), today announced the launch of XMLTimes.com, an Internet site for news and educational resources on Extensible Markup Language (XML), the language of e-business. The site features up-to-the-minute XML news-feeds from the Web's leading news agencies, with background and tutorial articles contributed by the authors of Prentice-Hall's Definitive XML Series from Charles F. Goldfarb. 'We are living in XML times,' explained Dr. Goldfarb, editor of XMLTimes.com, 'Personal relationships and humanly-conducted transactions are rapidly giving way to database entries and automated electronic procedures; XML is at the heart of this transition.' The XMLTimes.com Web site serves technical and non-technical readers with XML news, interpretive assistance, and a discussion community. Initial sponsors include: IBM, Aberdeen Group, Bluestone Software, eXcelon Corporation, XMLSolutions Corporation and the XMLeadership Conference and Expo Series. ... XMLTimes.com provides news, knowledge, and a community for gathering and sharing information about extensible markup language (XML), the language of e-business. It provides news-feeds, articles, and industry insight into business benefits and best practices associated with implementing XML. Drawing on the expertise of contributors to Prentice Hall's Definitive XML Series from Charles F. Goldfarb, the site offers a valuable resource for our XML times."

  • [March 21, 2000] "Mercator Announces ACORD XML Integration Software to Accelerate XML Adoption Within Insurance Industry. New Capabilities Dramatically Reduce Cost to Integrate Both XML and EDI Transactions With Insurance Applications Using ACORD Standards." - "Mercator Software, the e-business transformation company, today announced new capabilities within its Mercator E-Business Integration Broker products that enable dramatic reductions in the time, cost and effort to integrate ACORD XML transactions with existing insurance applications. With new e-business data transformation support incorporating ACORD XML, customers will be able to accelerate the adoption of XML for business-to-business (B2B) exchange of insurance transactions, forms and documents. Combined with existing Mercator support for ACORD AL3 standards for EDI, these new capabilities allow customers to deploy a single software architecture for integration of both XML and EDI transactions based on ACORD standards without creating programs, regardless of application complexity. Mercator's e-business transformation capabilities for ACORD are unique in the software industry. Mercator E-Business Integration Broker products capture the complete semantic descriptions of ACORD standards transactions in graphical form, including importing of ACORD data type definitions (DTDs), thereby allowing 100% transformation to any other format through a drag-and-drop interface, without writing programs or coding user exits. This 'any-to-any' capability without programming is a major advance over software tools that only integrate XML to XML. As a result, the time and cost savings to create and maintain interfaces using Mercator integration software that incorporates ACORD standards are substantial. Mercator's commitment to ACORD dates back to 1998, when it joined the organization and first introduced support for ACORD data standards in its Mercator product. Many insurance industry customers, such as Wausau Insurance and Nationwide Insurance, rely on Mercator technology as a strategic component of their application integration architecture." See "ACORD - XML for the Insurance Industry."

  • [March 21, 2000] "FileMaker, Inc. Exploits XML for FileMaker Pro 5 and FileMaker Pro 5 Unlimited with Launch of FileMaker XML Central. IT professionals and web developers may now leverage the power of XML within FileMaker Pro 5 and FileMaker Pro 5 Unlimited." - "FileMaker, Inc. today announced the immediate availability of FileMaker XML Central. A comprehensive resource for IT professionals and web developers, FileMaker XML Central provides essential documentation that details the Extensible Markup Language (XML) support in FileMaker Pro. It also includes instructional examples and useful links for learning more about XML and XML formatting technologies. The XML documentation and examples will also be included in the forthcoming FileMaker Developer 5, planned for shipment in April. They immediately equip IT professionals and Web developers to deploy an XML solution using dynamic data from their FileMaker Pro 5 database. With XML, FileMaker Developer 5 will provide users with a more powerful, higher performing, and more customizable solution that will allow them to build custom Web interfaces and exchange data with FileMaker Pro. XML and other industry open standards, like the FileMaker JDBC driver, are key components of the new FileMaker Developer 5, targeted at professional Web developers who are looking for a platform to publish dynamic data. The addition of XML technology also enables dynamic data exchange between FileMaker Pro 5 databases and other systems, like Oracle and SAP."

  • [March 21, 2000] "Harbinger Adds IBM's WebSphere Commerce Suite to its Applications Services Program on harbinger.net. Harbinger expands global alliance with IBM to focus on small and mid enterprise market." - "Harbinger Corporation, a worldwide supplier of business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce software, services and solutions, announced today immediate plans to add IBM's WebSphere Commerce Suite, Pro Edition, to its Application Services offering on harbinger.netSM. The new B2B catalog storefront service enhances Harbinger's growing Applications Services business by providing Small and Mid Enterprise (SME) customers with broad and rapid access to these new e-commerce capabilities on a monthly subscription basis. In addition, Harbinger announced that it is expanding its global alliance with IBM to focus on the SME market and IBM will provide co-marketing funds to support the marketing of Harbinger's new SME offering. Harbinger currently provides catalog data rationalization, hosting and publishing services through harbinger.net that help suppliers and buyers build and maintain their e-catalogs. By coupling these services with IBM's WebSphere Commerce Suite, Harbinger will now provide SME customers with B2B sell-side storefronts and catalogs, and an immediate e-commerce presence on the Internet. Harbinger will work with IBM to build an XML repository for their SME offerings and are actively working with international organizations, including UN/CEFACT and OASIS, to develop standard eXtensible Markup Language (XML) business specifications, particularly relevant in the e-catalog arena. Harbinger and IBM Global Services jointly announced late last year that they were expanding their marketing relationship across a broad range of e-commerce solutions to focus on integrated e-business solutions, including distribution of Harbinger TrustedLink, Unix and AS/400 Edition products to IBM global customers. As a further to this agreement, IBM plans to support and market Harbinger's latest IP release of its TrustedLink, AS/400 Edition software, e-Version 5, launched March 12. Harbinger Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of business-to-business e-commerce software, services and solutions. The company maximizes its customers' business potential with comprehensive, scalable e-commerce solutions that help streamline operations, increase profitability and build electronic trading communities. Harbinger's objective is to serve more customers using Internet Protocols (IP) than any other provider and to establish harbinger.netSM as the preferred virtual e-commerce center for information and mission-critical, business-to-business e-commerce transactions."

  • [March 21, 2000] "viaLink Introduces XML-enabled Solutions. Hosts Workshop about XML Adoption in CPG and Grocery Industries." - "The viaLink Company, a leading provider of secure, interactive e-business subscription-based services and solutions for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and grocery industries, has introduced XML-enabled supply chain solutions. At the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Marketechnics Show in San Francisco, February 20-22, viaLink demonstrated deployable, real-time application integration via XML with viaLink ready Program members Marketorder.com, OMI International and Total Control Information (TCI). Together with viaLink ready Program members, viaLink's customers can seamlessly connect their core business processes with end-to-end solutions. 'The decision to introduce XML-enabled solutions reaffirms viaLink's strong commitment and proven ability to deliver world-class supply chain solutions,' said Robert Noe, viaLink's executive vice president. viaLink also unveiled its eSchema and eInterchange frameworks at the show. These frameworks allow viaLink to successfully incorporate XML technology into its supply chain solutions. eSchema- and eInterchange-based XML integration and collaboration over the Internet offer a more comprehensive process-based access to viaLink business features and functions than can be obtained through more traditional EDI and custom format interfaces. XML, or extensible markup language, is the next generation programming language of the Internet. XML ensures that structured data will be uniform and independent of applications or vendors. This resulting interoperability provides standards for e-business and electronic commerce Web applications that allow for transmission of data without requiring knowledge of underlying systems."

  • [March 21, 2000] "Sequoia Software Integrates Three Key Populist Applications with Sequoia's XML Portal Server. Sequoia Gives Corporate Users Immediate Access to Online Benefits Planning, Procurement and Travel Services Directly Through XML Portal Desktop." - "Sequoia Software Corporation, a leading provider and innovator of XML-powered software for creating interactive e-business portals, today announced agreements with OfficeMax.com, the e-commerce business of OfficeMax, Inc., biztravel.com, and 401Kafe for integrating their Web-based services with Sequoia's XML Portal Server (XPS). Collectively, OfficeMax.com's office products and services, biztravel.com's full-service online travel capabilities, and 401Kafe's online benefits planning information fall into the category of "populist applications" because they are useful to the broadest range of corporate users. In making these applications available directly through the XPS interface, Sequoia is further reducing the cost and effort required for deploying a comprehensive enterprise portal solution. A report from Forrester Research titled, 'Pumping Up Intranet Portals' categorized benefits planning, corporate travel and procurement services as "populist apps" because they serve the widest range of corporate users, thereby providing the most value for the greatest amount of people within an organization. By integrating these online applications within XPS, Sequoia is ensuring its customers' employees will be more enthusiastic about adopting the portal as their primary point of interaction with corporate content. This in turn will drive overall use of the portal, increasing the return on the corporate investment. Sequoia Software Corporation is a leading provider and innovator of XML-powered software for creating interactive e-business portals. Sequoia's flagship product, the XML Portal Server (XPS), gives users a Web-based, single point of personalized access to distributed information, along with the capability to publish, edit, change, or update content. As the cornerstone of an effective e-business strategy, XPS improves the accuracy of information search and retrieval, and fosters the interchange of information between organizations and their customers and trading partners. Sequoia's customers include leading manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, insurance and telecommunications firms."

  • [March 21, 2000] Cutting-Edge Database Technology Increases Processing and Storing Power For Mobile Computing Devices. Unique Patented Technology Stores and Manipulates XML Structures Natively in the Database." - "Birdstep Technology AS, an international vendor and developer of Ultra Small Footprint database technology, today announced a unique solution to an increasing problem faced by the growing mobile computing industry. The Birdstep solution is a database that supports XML to increase processing power and storage capacity on handheld devices. The Birdstep technology, showcased today at a meeting with a major US software developer, included an XML-database of a 42,000 word Norwegian-English dictionary implemented on a PDA running Windows CE. The Birdstep database requires only 12MB of space to handle the dictionary, while traditional database systems supporting XML may need up to three times as much space (30MB). Birdstep's patented atomisation techniques store and manipulate the XML-structures within the actual database. This technology differs from most vendors that provide relational or flat file databases that are not able to provide multilevel XML support. Birdstep's technology allows for native XML representation within the physical database itself. As such, Birdstep's support for XML becomes an integrated part of the handheld's database system, versus other vendors that only provide an XML-layer on top of the flat file or relational technology. In addition, Birdstep technology keeps the whole XML-structure - or tree - persistently across disk and memory, a detail of importance when manipulating large and complex XML-documents."

  • [March 21, 2000] "Worldweb.net to Provide Kiplinger's Web Sites With New, Enhanced Web Performance. Expressroom's Content Management Software Enables Kiplinger To Deliver Efficient Dynamic Web Sites." - "Worldweb.net, a leader in content management, today announced that it will provide Kiplinger (http://www.kiplinger.com and http://www.special.kiplinger.com) with superior Web site performance using Worldweb.net's Expressroom content management solution. Expressroom will power both Kiplinger's free public site and its subscriber-only business forecasting site, allowing for easy production, management, deployment, delivery, and change. Updated daily, Kiplinger's Web sites provide interaction with experts to help with financial planning; tax tips from now through April 15; a weekly column for investors; as well as business and market forecasts. The site has data on stock and fund research as well as tools and calculators for most major financial decisions - from buying a home to paying for college to financing retirement. The business forecasting section gives subscribers access to daily forecasts on issues critical to top CEOs, executives and information professionals. Expressroom is a content management platform used to create, manage and deploy Web content. It combines the power of XML and Java resulting in a platform-independent, media-independent and vendor independent application. Designers and writers can easily create Web pages using GUI interfaces and truly dynamic XML templates. Content or components, such as text, images, video or sound are stored as XML objects, also easily managed by non-technical users. By fully separating the Web site development environment from the deployment environment, Expressroom supports distributed content delivery, thousands of users and millions of page views. With its open, component-based architecture, Expressroom is flexible enough to quickly customize as a platform working with best-of-breed products, or as a total solution."

  • [March 18, 2000] "Todd Luhtanen of Dynatek Elected to MISMO Governance Committee. Loan Origination Software Provider To Help Set Industry XML Data Interchange Standards." - "Todd Luhtanen of Dynatek has been elected to serve on the Governance Committee of the Mortgage Bankers Association's Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO). MISMO was recently formed by the MBA to establish XML data interchange standards for the mortgage industry. Todd Luhtanen, Dynatek's Director of Technology, has been elected to the board