XML.org Founders

XML.org Moves Forward with Commitment from Leading XML Companies

Commerce One, DataChannel, Documentum, GCA, IBM, Oracle, SAP, SoftQuad and Sun Microsystems Commit as XML.org Founders

Boston, MA, USA. July 06, 1999.

OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, today announced it has received financial commitment from industry leaders for XML.org, the global XML industry portal. IBM, Oracle, SAP and Sun Microsystems have all agreed to support XML.org as Founding Partners, and Commerce One, DataChannel, Documentum, the Graphic Communications Association (GCA) and SoftQuad have demonstrated their support as XML.org Founding Affiliates.

"XML.org Founding Partners and Affiliates should be commended for their commitment to open information exchange," said Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. "By funding XML.org and by serving on its Steering Committee, these organizations are enabling the advancement of XML for E-business."

"One of the first actions of the XML.org Steering Committee will be to establish a public architecture for an XML registry and repository that offers access to XML schemas and resources for electronic commerce and business-to-business transactions, while fostering tool and application interoperability," explained Bob Sutor, chief strategy officer for OASIS. "In keeping with the vendor-neutral, consensus-focused mission of OASIS, XML.org will actively solicit participation by individuals, companies and organizations involved in similar efforts."

Since the founding of XML.org on May 25, 1999, industry response has been "overwhelming," according to Bill Smith, president of the OASIS Board of Directors. "Everyone sees the need for a central location for XML application information, operated by a vendor-neutral consortium like OASIS. The commitment of the XML.org Founding Partners and Affiliates insures that the resources to carry out this important work are there."

"Technical work in the area of interoperability and conformance of structured information standards such as XML, SGML, and CGM has a long history at OASIS," reminded Norbert Mikula, chief technical officer for OASIS. "Since 1995 this work has helped our now 100+ members to grow this industry to where it stands today. XML.org and the work of the OASIS registry and repository technical committee is a logical path of continuation of our successful work." XML.org Partners (companies with revenues in excess of $250M US) are expected to contribute 100,000 USD and Affiliates (companies with revenues under $250M US) to provide 25,000 USD annually to fund the industry portal. Initially, the XML.org Steering Committee will be led by these founding organizations, although other companies are welcome to participate in the future by becoming Partners or Affiliates.

XML.org (http://xml.org) is the OASIS XML industry portal that provides accurate, timely information about the application of XML in industrial and commercial settings. XML.org serves as a reference repository for specific XML standards such as vocabularies, DTDs, schemas, and namespaces.

OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org/) is a non-profit, international consortium dedicated solely to product-independent data and content interchange. Focusing on product interoperability, OASIS embraces the complete spectrum of structured information standards including XML, SGML and CGM. OASIS sponsors include Adobe Systems, AND-USA, Arbortext, Bentley Systems, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Chrystal Software, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Enigma, GCA, IBM, Inso, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Larson Software, Microsoft, Object Design, Open Market, POET Software, Reuters, Sabre, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems.

Comments from XML.org Founders

"Commerce One has been involved with OASIS since its inception, and we welcome the opportunity to support XML.org," said Bob Glushko, director of advanced technology at Commerce One. "Commerce One's strategy is to create a global trading web of interoperable marketplaces built on the Commerce One MarketSite platform. A key part of this strategy is to activily participate and contribute to the XML specification efforts in both OASIS and CommerceNet to ensure interoperability between trading partners around the world."

"DataChannel is excited to demonstrate technology leadership and be part of this historical event," said Norbert Mikula, CTO of DataChannel. "Just as we see our XMLFramework as an essential piece to implement an enterprise-wide XML strategy, we see XML.org as a critical infrastructure piece to unleash the power of XML."

"Documentum is committed to providing a scalable XML repository to support our customers' current and future e-business requirements," said Howard Shao, co-founder and chief technology officer at Documentum, Inc. "For many years, Documentum provided the Enterprise Document Management System of choice to enable the management of SGML content for a number of our global 2000 customers. As we address content exchange and delivery for e-business, we believe that the XML.org portal will prove vital to both our strategy and the widespread success and adoption of XML. We are delighted to be a founding member of XML.org and to provide our support and expertise to this initiative."

"GCA is enthusiastic to be a part of XML.org. XML.org is a valuable tool for the industry for the development of new XML applications", said Marion Elledge, senior vice president, GCA. "We look forward to cooperating with XML.org in the promulgation and growth of XML."

"The growth of e-business demands the use of open standards for sharing information between an enterprise and its customers and trading partners," said Marie Wieck, IBM's director of XML technology. "XML.org will play a critical role in ensuring access to these standards so that industries can create XML grammars which take into account their unique business needs -- that is the real value which XML provides. IBM believes that the work being done by XML.org will allow the industry to work together on standards and grow the market, while still competing on products."

"Oracle is committed to open standards for information exchange on the Internet, and we are pleased to support XML.org in performing its vital role in this area," said Jeremy Burton, vice president of Server Marketing at Oracle. "Our customers are technology leaders in their industries, and XML is playing an increasingly important role in their application development and integration projects. Our XML-enabled Internet Platform products, including the Oracle8i database and Oracle Application Server, provide a high-performance infrastructure for managing, publishing, and exchanging XML data and documents between applications. Now, XML.org provides the open, vendor-neutral forum for the appropriate contributors to submit and refine industry-specific DTDs and schemas. We believe the combination of our XML-enabled data management products and the XML.org standards efforts will enable our customers to realize the full potential of XML as they transform themselves into the e-business leaders of their industries."

"XML is an essential cornerstone of SAP's mySAP.com initiative. We strongly believe that XML based messages are key to a more easy interoperability of systems and applications, especially over the internet," said Rainer Brendle, Chief Development Architect-Middleware for SAP AG. "We are pleased to support the standardization efforts of XML.org."

"SoftQuad Software is a founding members of OASIS and is very pleased to be a founding member of XML.org," said Lauren Wood, Director of Technology, SoftQuad Software. "XML.org will be important as an industry-wide XML portal and repository. SoftQuad has played an important role in the development of XML within the W3C. We are excited to support XML.org and its efforts to promote industry-consensus on the application of XML."

"The marriage of XML and Java technology is a natural one, and we're thrilled to be taking a lead role in defining this collaboration," said Jonathan Schwartz VP and GM of Internet Application and Performance Tools for Sun. "Sun has a long history of working to ensure an open Internet and providing the support and technologies necessary for enterprises across the planet to 'dot com' their businesses. Neutral conventions for the exchange of business information are at the heart of that effort, and we applaud the efforts of XML.org. We're looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship."

All company names, trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Prepared by Robin Cover for the The SGML/XML Web Page archive.

SEARCH Advanced Search ABOUT Site Map CP RSS Channel Contact Us Sponsoring CP About Our Sponsors NEWS Cover Stories Articles & Papers Press Releases CORE STANDARDS XML SGML Schemas XSL/XSLT/XPath XLink XML Query CSS SVG TECHNOLOGY REPORTS XML Applications General Apps Government Apps Academic Apps EVENTS LIBRARY Introductions FAQs Bibliography Technology and Society Semantics Tech Topics Software Related Standards Historic	XML.org Founders XML.org Moves Forward with Commitment from Leading XML Companies Commerce One, DataChannel, Documentum, GCA, IBM, Oracle, SAP, SoftQuad and Sun Microsystems Commit as XML.org Founders Boston, MA, USA. July 06, 1999. OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, today announced it has received financial commitment from industry leaders for XML.org, the global XML industry portal. IBM, Oracle, SAP and Sun Microsystems have all agreed to support XML.org as Founding Partners, and Commerce One, DataChannel, Documentum, the Graphic Communications Association (GCA) and SoftQuad have demonstrated their support as XML.org Founding Affiliates. "XML.org Founding Partners and Affiliates should be commended for their commitment to open information exchange," said Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. "By funding XML.org and by serving on its Steering Committee, these organizations are enabling the advancement of XML for E-business." "One of the first actions of the XML.org Steering Committee will be to establish a public architecture for an XML registry and repository that offers access to XML schemas and resources for electronic commerce and business-to-business transactions, while fostering tool and application interoperability," explained Bob Sutor, chief strategy officer for OASIS. "In keeping with the vendor-neutral, consensus-focused mission of OASIS, XML.org will actively solicit participation by individuals, companies and organizations involved in similar efforts." Since the founding of XML.org on May 25, 1999, industry response has been "overwhelming," according to Bill Smith, president of the OASIS Board of Directors. "Everyone sees the need for a central location for XML application information, operated by a vendor-neutral consortium like OASIS. The commitment of the XML.org Founding Partners and Affiliates insures that the resources to carry out this important work are there." "Technical work in the area of interoperability and conformance of structured information standards such as XML, SGML, and CGM has a long history at OASIS," reminded Norbert Mikula, chief technical officer for OASIS. "Since 1995 this work has helped our now 100+ members to grow this industry to where it stands today. XML.org and the work of the OASIS registry and repository technical committee is a logical path of continuation of our successful work." XML.org Partners (companies with revenues in excess of $250M US) are expected to contribute 100,000 USD and Affiliates (companies with revenues under $250M US) to provide 25,000 USD annually to fund the industry portal. Initially, the XML.org Steering Committee will be led by these founding organizations, although other companies are welcome to participate in the future by becoming Partners or Affiliates. XML.org (http://xml.org) is the OASIS XML industry portal that provides accurate, timely information about the application of XML in industrial and commercial settings. XML.org serves as a reference repository for specific XML standards such as vocabularies, DTDs, schemas, and namespaces. OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org/) is a non-profit, international consortium dedicated solely to product-independent data and content interchange. Focusing on product interoperability, OASIS embraces the complete spectrum of structured information standards including XML, SGML and CGM. OASIS sponsors include Adobe Systems, AND-USA, Arbortext, Bentley Systems, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Chrystal Software, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Enigma, GCA, IBM, Inso, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Larson Software, Microsoft, Object Design, Open Market, POET Software, Reuters, Sabre, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. Comments from XML.org Founders "Commerce One has been involved with OASIS since its inception, and we welcome the opportunity to support XML.org," said Bob Glushko, director of advanced technology at Commerce One. "Commerce One's strategy is to create a global trading web of interoperable marketplaces built on the Commerce One MarketSite platform. A key part of this strategy is to activily participate and contribute to the XML specification efforts in both OASIS and CommerceNet to ensure interoperability between trading partners around the world." "DataChannel is excited to demonstrate technology leadership and be part of this historical event," said Norbert Mikula, CTO of DataChannel. "Just as we see our XMLFramework as an essential piece to implement an enterprise-wide XML strategy, we see XML.org as a critical infrastructure piece to unleash the power of XML." "Documentum is committed to providing a scalable XML repository to support our customers' current and future e-business requirements," said Howard Shao, co-founder and chief technology officer at Documentum, Inc. "For many years, Documentum provided the Enterprise Document Management System of choice to enable the management of SGML content for a number of our global 2000 customers. As we address content exchange and delivery for e-business, we believe that the XML.org portal will prove vital to both our strategy and the widespread success and adoption of XML. We are delighted to be a founding member of XML.org and to provide our support and expertise to this initiative." "GCA is enthusiastic to be a part of XML.org. XML.org is a valuable tool for the industry for the development of new XML applications", said Marion Elledge, senior vice president, GCA. "We look forward to cooperating with XML.org in the promulgation and growth of XML." "The growth of e-business demands the use of open standards for sharing information between an enterprise and its customers and trading partners," said Marie Wieck, IBM's director of XML technology. "XML.org will play a critical role in ensuring access to these standards so that industries can create XML grammars which take into account their unique business needs -- that is the real value which XML provides. IBM believes that the work being done by XML.org will allow the industry to work together on standards and grow the market, while still competing on products." "Oracle is committed to open standards for information exchange on the Internet, and we are pleased to support XML.org in performing its vital role in this area," said Jeremy Burton, vice president of Server Marketing at Oracle. "Our customers are technology leaders in their industries, and XML is playing an increasingly important role in their application development and integration projects. Our XML-enabled Internet Platform products, including the Oracle8i database and Oracle Application Server, provide a high-performance infrastructure for managing, publishing, and exchanging XML data and documents between applications. Now, XML.org provides the open, vendor-neutral forum for the appropriate contributors to submit and refine industry-specific DTDs and schemas. We believe the combination of our XML-enabled data management products and the XML.org standards efforts will enable our customers to realize the full potential of XML as they transform themselves into the e-business leaders of their industries." "XML is an essential cornerstone of SAP's mySAP.com initiative. We strongly believe that XML based messages are key to a more easy interoperability of systems and applications, especially over the internet," said Rainer Brendle, Chief Development Architect-Middleware for SAP AG. "We are pleased to support the standardization efforts of XML.org." "SoftQuad Software is a founding members of OASIS and is very pleased to be a founding member of XML.org," said Lauren Wood, Director of Technology, SoftQuad Software. "XML.org will be important as an industry-wide XML portal and repository. SoftQuad has played an important role in the development of XML within the W3C. We are excited to support XML.org and its efforts to promote industry-consensus on the application of XML." "The marriage of XML and Java technology is a natural one, and we're thrilled to be taking a lead role in defining this collaboration," said Jonathan Schwartz VP and GM of Internet Application and Performance Tools for Sun. "Sun has a long history of working to ensure an open Internet and providing the support and technologies necessary for enterprises across the planet to 'dot com' their businesses. Neutral conventions for the exchange of business information are at the heart of that effort, and we applaud the efforts of XML.org. We're looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship." All company names, trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders. Prepared by Robin Cover for the The SGML/XML Web Page archive.