ebXML Integrates SOAP Into Messaging Services Spec

[Carol Geyer <cgeyer7@home.com>]

ebXML Integrates SOAP Into Messaging Services Specification

Boston, MA, USA, Geneva, Switzerland; February 22, 2001—UN/CEFACT and
OASIS announced efforts are now underway to integrate SOAP 1.1 and SOAP
with Attachments specifications into the ebXML Messaging Specification.
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is designed to provide the
underpinnings for messaging requirements. This development by ebXML will
result in an open, widely adopted global standard for reliably
transporting electronic business messages over the Internet.

“The convergence of these two specifications marks a significant step
forward for interoperability,” commented Klaus-Dieter Naujok, chair of
ebXML and member of the UN/CEFACT Steering Group. “We’re committed—not
only to integrating ebXML Messaging with SOAP—but also to completing
this work in time to meet our original goal of delivering ebXML in May
2001.”

"Having the messaging infrastructure of ebXML built on SOAP is a strong
signal that standards convergence is both desired by the industry and
doable," said Dr. Robert S. Sutor of IBM, Vice-Chair of ebXML and a
member of the OASIS Board of Directors. "As ebXML evolves, we will
continue to explore how we can cooperate with others to help develop the
foundational open standards for business on the Internet."

The ebXML Messaging Specification encompasses a set of services and
protocols that allow an electronic business client to request services
from electronic business servers over any application-level transport
protocol, including SMTP, HTTP and others. ebXML defines a
general-purpose message, with a header that supports multiple payloads,
while allowing digital signatures within and among related messages.
Although the header is XML, the body of the message may be XML, MIME or
virtually anything digital.

"By adopting SOAP in their messaging layer, ebXML puts to rest any
worries about interoperability between SOAP and ebXML. This takes
advantage of SOAP's role as a key component of XML-based messaging,"
said Andrew Layman, XML Architect of Microsoft.

“The ebXML Messaging Services Specification retains all the secure,
reliable messaging functionality that has been developed to date,”
explained Rik Drummond of the Drummond Group, ebXML Messaging Services
Project Team Leader. “By incorporating SOAP into ebXML, we streamline
acceptance and reduce the cost of product implementation for all
companies, regardless of their size.”

About ebXML
ebXML (www.ebXML.org) is an International Initiative established by
UN/CEFACT and OASIS in late 1999 with a mandate to undertake an 18-month
program of work to research and identify the technical basis upon which
the global implementation of XML (Extensible Markup Language) can be
standardized. The goal of ebXML is to facilitate open trade between
organizations regardless of size by enabling XML to be used in a
consistent manner to exchange electronic business data.

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 programme 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
serves as the home for industry groups interested in developing XML
specifications. OASIS sponsors include Adobe Systems, Access360,
Aerospatiale, AND Data Solutions, Arbortext, Auto-trol, Aventail,
Baltimore Technologies, B-Bop Associates, BEA Systems, Bentley Systems,
Boeing, Bowstreet, Bridge, Chrystal Software, Cohesia, Commerce One,
Critical Path, DataChannel, Dataloom, Defense Information Services
Agency, Deutsche Post AG, Documentum, EADS Airbus, eCredit.com, empolis,
Enigma, Excelergy, eXcelon, Extensibility, Extricity, First Call,
Hewlett-Packard, IBM, icomXpress, Informix, Infoteria, Innodata,
Interwoven, IPNet Solutions, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Jamcracker, JetForm,
Logistics Management Institute, Mediaplex, Mercator Software,
Micrografx, Microsoft, Netegrity, Netfish, Netscape/AOL, NextPage, NII
Enterprise Promotion Association, Nimble Technology, NIST, ObjectSpace,
Pick Systems, Pearson Education, Planet 7 Technologies, Popkin Software,
ProNet Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SAP, Securant Technologies, Sequoia
Software, SilverStream Software, SoftQuad, Software AG, Sterling
Commerce, StreamServe, Sun Microsystems, Tamalpais Group, Thomas
Technology Solutions, TIBCO, Virtual Access Networks, Visa, Wavo,
webMethods, Whitehill Technologies, Xerox, XML Global, XMLSolutions and
XyEnterprise.

For more information:
Carol Geyer
Director of Communications
OASIS
carol.geyer@oasis-open.org
+1.941.284.0403