Open Applications Group Announces Support for ebXML

[Carol Geyer <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org>]

The Open Applications Group Announces Support for ebXML
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OAGI to incorporate electronic business messaging specification from
United Nations trade and technology body and OASIS into over 182 mature
Business Object Documents (BODs) or XML-based business messages.

July 30, 2001 (Atlanta, GA)--The Open Applications Group, Inc. (OAGI),
the largest publisher of XML-based business messages in the world, today
announced plans to integrate the ebXML specification into the 182
business transaction standards currently published by the organization.
EbXML was developed in an open process jointly sponsored by the
UN/CEFACT and OASIS (Organization for Structured Information Standards)
to standardize XML-based messaging and information interchange in
Internet transactions between companies. UN/CEFACT is the United Nations
body that develops policy and technology to facilitate trade and
electronic business worldwide.

The OAGI Integration Specification (OAGIS) defines over 182 XML-based
business objects (BODs) for business-to-business and
application-to-application integration in e-Commerce, purchasing,
manufacturing, logistics, human resource management and finance. It is
expected that OAGI support for ebXML will significantly accelerate
broad-based adoption of this specification.  OAGI is currently believed
to have the largest installed based of any XML-based set of business
messages.

"We expect that ebXML and OAGIS will work hand in glove," said David
Connelly, president and CEO of OAGI. "ebXML provides a technical
framework for transactions that is international in scope.  We offer a
large, international installed base supporting a mature set of XML-based
business object documents that facilitate hands-free interoperability
within and between companies. Both standards are horizontal in nature
and can be used in almost any industry sector," Connelly added.

"OAGI's decision to adopt ebXML is an exciting milestone and will do
much to advance our mutual goal of interoperability," said Laura Walker,
executive director of OASIS. "OAGI was an active participant in the
development of ebXML, and we welcome their support in furthering its
implementation."

According to Connelly, the latest release (v. 7.1) of the business
process based Open Applications Group Integration Specification (OAGIS)
contains the largest and richest set of XML Document Type Definition
(DTD) files in the world. "It goes the farthest towards defining the
‘digital dial tone’ that organizations require to do business in the
emerging World of e-Commerce and e-Business," he said.

About the Open Applications Group
The OAGI is a non-profit consortium of technology providers and end-user
organizations. The organization develops best practices and process
based XML content for eBusiness and Application Integration. It is the
world’s largest publisher of XML based content for business software
interoperability and the only XML development organization supporting
“end to end” integration.  That includes technology for
business-to-business, application to application and application to
execution systems transactions. Member company teams have built a
consensus-based framework for business software application
interoperability and a repeatable process for quickly developing high
quality business content and XML representations of that content.

About ebXML
EbXML, sponsored by UN/CEFACT and OASIS, is a modular suite of
specifications that enables enterprises of any size and in any
geographical location to conduct business over the Internet. Using
ebXML, companies now have a standard method to exchange business
messages, conduct trading relationships, communicate data in common
terms and define and register business processes.

About UN/CEFACT
UN/CEFACT (www.uncefact.org) is the United Nations body whose mandate
covers worldwide policy and technical development in the area of trade
facilitation and electronic business. Headquartered in Geneva, it has
developed and promoted many tools for the facilitation of global
business processes including UN/EDIFACT, the international EDI standard.
Its current work program includes such topics as Simpl-edi and Object
Oriented EDI and it strongly supports the development and implementation
of open, interoperable global standards and specifications for
electronic business.

About OASIS
OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org) is the international, not-for-profit
consortium that advances electronic business by promoting open,
collaborative development of interoperability specifications. OASIS
sponsors include a wide range of software companies and technology
providers.

For free downloadable copies of Release 7.1, or to learn about other
OAGI industry activities and resources, visit the OAGI website at
www.openapplications.org.  Or you can contact the organization by e-mail
at info@openapplications.org.

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For more information:
Rob Beswick
Beswick Communications, Inc.
412-231-6676 ext. 102
Bescom@aol.com