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Kelly Hankins
CommerceNet
Tel: 650-858-1930 x225
E-mail: kelly@commerce.net
"CommerceNet believes that XML unlocks the potential of the Worldwide Web for electronic commerce," stated Randall C. Whiting, President and CEO of CommerceNet. "While HTML gave us the ability to present information on the Web, it didn’t do anything to help us understand how to use that information. With XML, we have the potential to create powerful objects that will form the basis of online commerce."
The CommerceNet initiative is designed to close the time gap between the development of industry standards and implementation of open, interoperable applications in the electronic commerce arena. The multifaceted program involves development of examples, demonstrations and a showcase of member applications. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of XML as a key technology for the realization of efficient Internet Commerce. One of the key facets of this effort will be to demonstrate how a buyer's need for comparison shopping and a merchant's need for brand differentiation can both be achieved using open, non-proprietary technology standards.
The CommerceNet program is made up of three strategic projects:
XML Catalogs & DTDs. Develop example product catalogs for multiple vendors of similar products using XML and associated Document Type Definitions (DTDs). This activity will also provide a roadmap for members, to show the role of various XML tools (editors, parsers and browsers) in the authoring, publishing and use of XML product catalogs.
iMarkets. Build a demonstration virtual marketplace which utilizes the multiple vendor XML catalogs with standard DTDs and allows shoppers to search for products across vendors by specifying product and merchant attributes.
XML/EDI. Create demonstration testbeds to showcase the use of XML-based product descriptions in EDI transactions. CommerceNet's Information Access Portfolio and EDI & Network Services Portfolio will jointly sponsor development of examples to demonstrate XML/EDI solutions. In support of this effort, CommerceNet is announcing the formation of the XML/EDI Task Force which will hold its initial meeting on Tuesday, September 16, 1997, during CommerceNet's portfolio and member meetings at TechMart in Santa Clara, California. Companies interested in joining this Task Force should contact Rik Drummond (drummond@commerce.net) or Patrick Gannon (gannon@commerce.net).