Notes from today's conference call

[Alan Kotok <akotok@disa.org>]

TO:  MAE Project Team

Following are the notes from today's conference call. Please let me know if 
you have questions.  Best regards.

Alan Kotok
Director, Education and Information Resources
Data Interchange Standards Association
akotok@disa.org
+1 703-518-4174
** DISA's E-Business and Internet Conference, 7-9 March 2001, in San Francisco.
http://www.disa.org/conference/annual_conf/index.htm **

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Conference call notes, ebXML Marketing-Awareness-Education project team
19 December 2000

Participants:  Simon Nicholson, Michael Weiner, Carol Geyer, Steve Yung, 
Alan Kotok

1. Proof of concept (POC) demonstration, 13 December 2000

Simon Nicholson reported that the event generated a good deal of coverage 
that Carol Geyer noted in a message to the team with a listing of the 
stories in the media.  Alan Kotok (who had not attended) said much of the 
buzz after the demo seemed to frame the story as competition between 
Microsoft vs. Sun, with the intended story line of ebXML accomplishments 
and its accelerated timetable lost as a result. Nicholson noted how one 
story had that focus, but others picked it up through syndication.

Participants discussed lessons learned from the event.  Suggestions 
included getting more discussion or endorsements from business end-users, 
having UN/CEFACT representatives more prominent, and encouraging more 
vendor announcements.  The group agreed that the event did result in a lot 
of ink that ebXML had not enjoyed before, and succeeded in getting the 
attention of at least the technology media.

2. XML One, London

Nicholson said this conference scheduled for 20-22 March 2001 would be the 
venue for the roll out of the first ebXML specifications on messaging, 
registry/repository, and trading partner agreements.  Geyer said ebXML will 
have an entire track, in which all project teams will be represented, as 
well as a general session, POC/demonstration, and press 
conference.  Participants discussed the need to have an outside party keep 
track of the details, given the scope and complexity of the activities 
planned.  Geyer said that OASIS is considering hiring a PR agency that may 
be able to help with some of that work.

3. Other business

Beta version of messaging specifications:  the group agreed this is a 
worthy announcement, but to hold the release until January
Project team Web page:  Geyer agreed to update the text, which badly needs 
updating

4. Next call, 2 January 2001

Nicholson asked the group to think about ideas for better telling the ebXML 
story, to discuss in the next conference call, as well as generating more 
involvement in the MAE team.  Participants suggested including marketing 
people involved in the POC demos.  Kotok will discuss media opportunities 
with X12 and Open Travel Alliance, both of which are strong supporters of 
ebXML and have activities or announcements planned for the next two months.