Boston, MA, USA-November 29, 1999–OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, today announced that Craig Chevrier has joined the consortium as managing editor of XML.org. In this new position, Chevrier will drive editorial strategy and content for XML.org, the industry portal that provides vendor-neutral information about the application of XML in industrial and commercial settings. “My primary focus will be to broaden the content of XML.org so it continues to be a place where the industry turns for objective XML information,” said Chevrier. “ebXML, the joint initiative headed by OASIS and the United Nations to develop a global electronic business XML framework, is one example of the kind of exciting, cross-industry work that XML.org will showcase.” Chevrier brings extensive experience in web site production and editing to his position at OASIS. Most recently, he served as internet content manager for Trans World Entertainment, the largest music retailer in the United States. At Trans World, Chevrier led several XML implementations on www.TWEC.com, the company’s online retail and entertainment site. “Craig will coordinate a team of internal and external resources to develop and procure informative, relevant content for XML.org,” added Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. “He will also act as an advocate for the portal, raising awareness of the site as an independent, valuable resource for anyone interested in the application of XML.” About OASIS 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, Chrystal Software, Commerce One, Corel, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, Enigma, Excelergy, Extricity Software, GCA, IBM, InformIT, Inso, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Keyfile, Larson Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NIST, Object Design, Oracle, POET Software, Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, Sequoia Software, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XMLSolutions, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. About XML.org XML.org (http://xml.org) is a self-supporting community resource designed to provide a credible source of accurate, timely information about the application of XML in industrial and commercial settings. Hosted by OASIS, the world’s leading independent organization for the standardization of XML applications in electronic commerce, XML.org serves as a reference for XML DTDs, schemas and related information. Sponsors of XML.org include: Commerce One, DataChannel, Documentum, GCA, IBM, Oracle, SAP, SoftQuad and Sun Microsystems. # # # For more information: Carol Geyer, Program Manager, OASIS, +1.412.963.1479, carol.geyer@oasis-open.org ###

Boston, MA; October 11, 1999–OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, today announced public availability of the XML Exchange Table Model Document Type Definition. Published as OASIS Technical Memorandum TR 9901:1999 (http://www.oasis-open.org/html/techpubs.htm), the XML Exchange Table Model DTD is an XML expression of the exchange subset of the full CALS Table Model DTD (http://www.oasis-open.org/html/a502.htm). “The benefit of the exchange subset is that, if an application’s tables are tagged according to this subset, there is a high probability that the table will be interoperable among the great majority of OASIS vendor products,” explained Norman Walsh (Arbortext), chair of the OASIS XML Tables Technical Committee. “This memorandum satisfies the growing desire among OASIS member companies to have an official XML version of the Exchange Table Model.” “The XML Table Model is an important step forward,” said Norbert Mikula (DataChannel), chief technical officer of OASIS. “For years, the SGML Table Model has been the heart of table interoperability. Now, the XML Table Model will provide the same utility for the XML world.” The OASIS XML Tables Technical Committee includes participants from the following OASIS member companies: Arbortext, Crane Softwrights, DataChannel, ISOGEN, Mulberry Technologies, Sun Microsystems and others. About OASIS OASIS (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, Chrystal Software, Corel, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, Enigma, Extricity Software, GCA, IBM, Inso, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Keyfile, Larson Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NIST, Object Design, Oracle, POET Software, Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XMLSolutions, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. About XML.org XML.org (http://xml.org) is a self-supporting community resource designed to provide a credible source of accurate, timely information about the application of XML in industrial and commercial settings. Hosted by OASIS, the world’s leading independent organization for the standardization of XML applications in electronic commerce, XML.org serves as a reference for XML vocabularies, DTDs, schemas, and namespaces. Sponsors of XML.org include: Commerce One, DataChannel, Documentum, GCA, IBM, Oracle, SAP, SoftQuad and Sun Microsystems. For more information: Carol Geyer, Program Manager, OASIS, +1.412.963.1479, carol.geyer@oasis-open.org ###

Boston, MA, July 30, 1999–OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, today announced public availability of the OASIS XML Conformance Test Suite-a set of more than 1,000 tests that determine the ability of XML parsers to handle test cases built on the W3C Recommendation. The OASIS XML Conformance Test Suite can be downloaded from the OASIS web site at http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/xmltest/testsuite.htm. The OASIS XML Conformance Test Suite incorporates tests developed by the OASIS technical committee with those contributed by Sun Microsystems, Fuji Xerox Information Systems and James Clark. Utilizing an approach defined by committee members G. Ken Holman (Crane Softwrights, Ltd), Mary Brady (NIST), and Dave Brownell (formerly of Sun Microsystems), NIST staff built the test suite as it currently exists. Each set of contributed tests were validated against a set of locally installed parsers and augmented with test descriptions and pointers to the specific production under test, ensuring that each test was well-grounded in the recommendation. This information was encapsulated in an XML test description file for each set of tests, and then generated into a report using the supplied XSL stylesheets. “We’ve put together the most comprehensive test suite available, covering much of the XML 1.0 specification-and we’ve done it using XML,” said OASIS committee chairperson, Mary Brady (NIST), who emphasized that the OASIS XML Conformance Test Suite is completely open. “OASIS invites any organization that has developed XML conformance tests to become part of our continuing work.” “The OASIS XML Conformance Test Suite is critical for our industry,” explained Norbert Mikula (DataChannel), OASIS chief technology officer. “It serves as a valuable resource for XML application developers as well as parser developers, providing them with a ready-to-go testing environment which will ultimately increase conformance to the XML recommendation.” Tim Bray, co-editor of the W3C XML specification, said, “The OASIS Conformance project is a major step forward, and the industry should rally around it. Both buyers and sellers of technology have, of late, been vocal in saying that they want to support XML, and I believe they are sincere. The Test Suite is a tool that will help everyone deliver on these good intentions.” “Internationalization is one of the biggest advantages of XML, and is further encouraged by this test suite,” commented Makoto Murata (Fuji Xerox Information Systems), whose company made significant contributions to the work. “Japanese test cases assist in testing the support of Unicode, legacy encodings, and natural language markups.” Brady stressed that the posted OASIS XML Conformance Test Suite is a first release. “We will continue to work on additional aspects of XML as the standard evolves. Tests to include XML namespaces, X-Pointer/X-Link and XML schemas will be added when the recommendations become available.” OASIS ( 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 operates XML.org (www.xml.org), the first global XML industry portal featuring the XML.org Registry and Repository that offers automated public access to XML schemas for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability. OASIS sponsors include Adobe Systems, AND-USA, Arbortext, Bentley Systems, Chrystal Software, Compaq, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, Enigma, GCA, IBM, Inso, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Keyfile, Larson Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NIST, Object Design, POET Software, Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. Carol Geyer Program Manager OASIS +1.412.963.1479 geyer@oasis-open.org

Boston, MA, USA, July 22, 1999-Companies, individuals and industry associations involved in XML are invited to participate in the sixth annual OASIS Summer Workshop. This year, Workshop highlights will include sessions dedicated to the Consortium’s Registry and Repository and XML Conformance Technical Committees. “The OASIS Summer Workshop will provide an arena for major XML users and vendors to interface on cutting-edge technical work,” said Mary McRae (DMSi), chief marketing officer of OASIS. “The goal is to map strategies and execute deliverables that insure true XML interoperability.” In addition to OASIS committee working sessions, the OASIS Board of Directors will conduct their quarterly meeting, interface with the Board of Directors of CGM Open, an OASIS affiliate organization, and meet with the XML.org Steering Committee. The recently formed XML.org Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from XML.org sponsoring organizations including Commerce One, DataChannel, Documentum, GCA, IBM, Oracle, SAP, SoftQuad and Sun Microsystems, will hold their second strategy meeting during which they will finalize policy regarding allowed schema languages for schema submissions for XML.org. Registrations are now being accepted for the three-day meeting that will address future directions for the registry and repository capabilities of XML.org, the XML industry portal, and other OASIS technical projects. The members-only event, which will be held August 11-13 in Montreal, Canada, is expected to attract XML users and vendors from around the world. For the first time ever, the OASIS Summer Workshop is open to individuals, who are now able to join the consortium as part of recently restructured membership. As a special incentive, the OASIS Summer Workshop’s 150 USD meeting fee will be waived for Individuals who join OASIS for 250 USD before 10 August. “Any company or individual involved with XML — or anyone who plans to become involved — should be represented at this event,” said Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. “Decisions will be made here that will affect the future direction of the industry.” Membership in OASIS is open to any organization or individual interested in contributing to the work of the Consortium. For more information about membership in OASIS, visit http://www.oasis-open.org/members.htm. Information on the OASIS Summer Workshop is provided on http://www.oasis-open.org/forms/summerworkshop.htm. OASIS (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 operates XML.org (www.xml.org), the first global XML industry portal featuring the XML Registry and Repository that offers automated public access to XML schemas for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability. OASIS sponsors include Adobe Systems, AND-USA, Arbortext, Bentley Systems, Chrystal Software, Compaq, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, Enigma, GCA, IBM, Inso, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Keyfile, Larson Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NIST, Object Design, POET Software, Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. For more information: Carol Geyer Program Manager OASIS mailto:geyer@oasis-open.org +1.412.963-1479 ###

Washington, DC, July 19, 1999-OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, has agreed to participate in a focus group on Internet Standardization and E-Commerce organized by the Office of Science and Technology Policy of the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The focus group, which will be held at the White House Conference Center in Washington, DC on Tuesday, July 20, will examine how changing technological, market, and legal environments are affecting the development of standards for the Internet, electronic commerce and knowledge management. “This focus group will assess the health and requirements of standards activities, projecting the key features of the global standards landscape over the next five to seven years. We will gauge the effects of the rapid growth of electronic commerce and Internet services on standards development and identify the implications for national and international policy, including competition, antitrust and intellectual property law,” said Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. “Through this dialog, the OSTP seeks to understand the significant political and institutional trends for industry alliances, consortia, and standards organizations and whether and how the government should engage in these standards activities.” “As the only vendor-neutral, international consortium dedicated to advancing structured information standards such as XML, OASIS brings a unique perspective to this forum,” said Walker. “The Consortium’s work continues to complement that of international standards bodies, such as the W3C, with a focus on making these standards easy to adopt, and practical to use in real-world, open system applications.” OASIS (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 operates XML.org(www.xml.org), the first global XML industry portal featuring the XML Registry and Repository that offers automated public access to XML schemas for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability. OASIS sponsors include Adobe Systems, AND-USA, Arbortext, Bentley Systems, Chrystal Software, Compaq, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, Enigma, GCA, IBM, Inso, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, Keyfile, Larson Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NIST, Object Design, POET Software, Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. For more information: Carol Geyer OASIS Geyer@oasis-open.org +1.412.963-1479 ###

Boston, MA, USA, July 8, 1999 -OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, announced the restructuring of its membership requirements, widely expanding access to its XML interoperability technical work. The non-profit consortium, which was previously open only to companies who use or provide products or services based on structured information standards such as XML, SGML and CGM, added new membership categories for individuals and associate XML industry groups. Interested parties may apply for membership online at www.oasis-open.org. “This change is made in response to popular demand,” explained Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. “As interest in XML has skyrocketed, OASIS has been approached by many individuals who are anxious to contribute to the technical work of the consortium. We have also received many requests from industry groups working on developing XML schemas and vocabularies that want to take advantage of OASIS’ open forum on interoperability issues.” “With corporate membership in OASIS at an all-time high, we felt it was a great time to expand the reach of our technical work to include individuals,” commented Simon Nicholson (Chrystal Software), chairperson of the OASIS Board of Directors. “We look forward to the ideas and efforts these people will bring to our ongoing technical work including the XML.org Registry and Repository and the OASIS XML Conformance Test Suite.” OASIS membership levels now include Sponsors, Contributors, Individuals and Associates. Organizations participate in OASIS as either Sponsors or Contributors, based on the level of benefits they wish to receive. Sponsors, who take advantage of comprehensive technical and marketing benefits, support the consortium for 9500 USD annually. Contributors, who also benefit from OASIS marketing and technical work, pay 5000 USD (companies with ten or more employees) or 2500 USD (companies with fewer than ten employees). The new Individual Membership, at 250 USD per year, is offered to those who wish to participate in OASIS technical activities. Like all members, Individuals have the right to attend all OASIS general meetings, and they can fully participate in all working groups. At this level, membership is on an individual basis and is not transferable to other individuals. OASIS supports the development of XML specifications by offering an Associate Membership to individuals representing application or industry standards bodies. Associates, who pay 250 USD annually, are individuals appointed by an industry consortium or standards body (recognized as such by the OASIS Board of Directors) to represent the interests of that body in OASIS. Representatives enjoy the same rights and level of service as Individuals; the difference is that representation is transferable between individuals if the designated contact person for the represented organization gives notice. This allows continuity of participation by an organization even when it is necessary to change designated representatives. 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 operates XML.org, the first global XML industry portal featuring an XML registry and repository that offers automated public access to XML schemas for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability. 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, The SABRE Group, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. Contact: Laura Walker Executive Director OASIS 978/439 9035 lawalker@oasis-open.org KEYWORDS: XML, OASIS, XML.org, Adobe, 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, ODI, Open Market, POET Software, Reuters, The SABRE Group, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems ###

Boston, MA, July 7, 1999 — In response to recent announcements including the XML.org industry portal, record numbers of XML users and vendors have joined OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards. In this, its sixth year since being founded as SGML Open, OASIS has seen membership increase 300 percent. New OASIS Sponsor members include DOCUMENTUM, Interwoven, Microsoft, Object Design, Reuters, and Wavo. IBM, NIST and Synthbank have upgraded their previous membership to Sponsor-level status. “The response has been overwhelming,” described Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. “The need for objective, vendor-neutral resources like XML.org and OASIS is proven by the quantity and quality of industry leaders who have come forth to endorse and participate in our work.” “DOCUMENTUM is committed to providing a scalable XML repository to support our customers’ Web content management and e-business requirements,” said Howard Shao, co-founder and chief technology officer of DOCUMENTUM, Inc.. “As a founding affiliate member of XML.org and OASIS sponsor, we fully support OASIS’ activities to accelerate the adoption of XML as the eBusiness data standard.” “XML is key for companies moving their business to the web” says Joe Ruck, Vice President of Marketing at Interwoven. “By working with OASIS and our co-members we will successfully promote best practice use of XML as the foundation for open, standards-based eBusiness.” “Many of our customers are already using OASIS’ XML schemas as the starting point for their new, extensible XML eBusiness applications,” said Larry Alston, vice president of operations for Object Design’s eXcelon division. “OASIS will continue to serve as a vital resource for companies everywhere and will be a driving force behind XML’s universal adoption as the data standard for eBusiness.” “Reuters has long been committed to open standards, and is an active member of W3C and other standards organizations,” said Mike Sayers, Reuters Chief Technology Officer. “Joining OASIS will allow us to work with others to bring our work on XML for news and financial information into the open standards arena.” “XML is at the heart of our new product, NewsPak,” said David E. Deeds, Chairman, President and CEO, of Wavo Corporation, “XML is changing the fundamental nature of news and information delivery over the Internet. We fully support OASIS in its objectives: product-independence, content interchange and interoperability.” Also joining OASIS as Contributor members are Bluestone Software, CourseNet Systems, Extensibility, GE Information Services, Hynet, iMediation, Novell, ProcureNet and Sequoia Software. DOCUMENTUM, Inc. (www.documentum.com, NASDAQ:DCTM), a leading provider of Web applications, enables Global 2000 corporations to dramatically increase the innovation of new products and processes that contribute to top-line growth. Tailored to the unique needs of specific vertical markets, DOCUMENTUM products allow knowledge workers to easily capture, access and share information – accelerating time to revenue and enabling trusted knowledge exchanges for e-business. Interwoven (www.interwoven.com) is a supplier of content management software for the enterprise Web applications. Interwoven’s flagship product, TeamSite, enables electronic commerce, customer relationship management, supply-chain management and knowledge management for Web leaders and Fortune 1000 companies moving to the Web. Object Design (www.odi.com) eXcelon Division is the maker of eXcelon, an XML-based information server for managing and delivering dynamically extensible eBusiness information to customers, co-workers, partners and prospects. Reuters (www.reuters.com) is the world’s largest supplier of news and financial information, providing real-time and historic financial data, graphics, news video, and news pictures to over 485,000 users in the business and financial communities, and to 225 Web sites. Wavo Corporation (NASDAQ: WAVO) (www.wavo.com) is in the business of moving media. It partners with the foremost providers of news, business data, Internet based content and multimedia programming to deliver selective intelligence and quality content to an information-dependent society. OASIS (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 operates XML.org, the first global XML industry portal featuring an XML registry and repository that offers automated public access to XML schemas for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability. 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, The SABRE Group, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, System Development, Wavo, Xerox, XyEnterprise and Zeh Graphics Systems. ###

July 1, 1999–OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, announced the election of a new board of directors led by Simon Nicholson (Chrystal Software) as chairperson and Bill Smith (Sun Microsystems) as president. Jonathan Parsons (Xyvision Enterprise Solutions) serves as vice president/secretary/treasurer and Bob Sutor (IBM) as chief strategy officer. Norbert Mikula (DataChannel) serves as chief technical officer and leads the technical track. Mary McRae (DMSi) serves as chief marketing officer and leads the marketing track. Alan Hester (Xerox) serves as director and liaison to the CGM-Open affiliate consortium. “Never before has OASIS had such a balance of representation from large and small XML companies, from users, vendors and consultants,” said McRae who has been involved with the consortium since its inception as SGML Open in 1993. According to Hester, a top priority for today’s OASIS Board will be to increase user membership by offering benefits that address their needs. “A big part of that will be the XML.org industry portal, with its registry and repository that will offer automated public access to XML schemas for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability.” “The real commercial value of XML will only be realized when we have pervasive, vendor-neutral standards for interchanging structured data within related industry segments,” commented Sutor. “With strong leadership and industry backing, OASIS is establishing itself as an international leader among the small number of organizations that will have significant influence on a broad range of XML vocabularies.” “It is a privilege to work with such experienced, committed XML professionals,” said Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. “In the short time this new Board has been seated, they’ve already demonstrated visionary leadership and collectively will make significant contributions to the industry on behalf of the entire OASIS membership.” ###

May 25, 1999, Austin, TX — Today OASIS announced the creation of XML.ORG, the first global XML industry portal to be operated by a non-profit corporation devoted to open information exchange. Over 23 industry-leading corporations, organizations and individual experts have rallied to voice their support for the formation of XML.ORG. Central to XML.ORG will be an open industry XML registry and repository offering automated public access to XML schemas. The registry/repository will play a critical enabling role in the use of industry-defined XML applications for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability. The debut of XML.ORG signifies a major step in OASIS’ ongoing registry and repository efforts, work that has been in progress for the last the 12 months. In keeping with its consensus-focused mission, OASIS will strive to ensure interoperability with existing and emerging XML initiatives, and will continue to actively solicit participation by any similar efforts. The XML.ORG registry found immediate support from the Graphic Communications Association. The participation of the GCA is significant because of GCA’s historic role in shaping XML and its recent work in the study of XML/EDI unification. “GCA is enthusiastic about working with OASIS on XML.ORG,” said Marion Elledge, Senior VP, GCA. “As the principal supporter of XML and other markup language standards, we are pleased to see this application effort take place. XML.ORG is a giant step for the industry and GCA is proud to be a part of this initiative.” “We’ve received overwhelmingly positive initial reactions to the open registry concept from other industry groups planning to use XML for data exchange,” said OASIS Program Manager Carol Geyer. “We expect many of them to announce their support for XML.ORG over the next few weeks.” Charles F. Goldfarb, the father of markup languages and a member of the Advisory Board for the founding of OASIS, said “This latest action by OASIS moves us even further toward the vision of universal information interchange that motivated the original creation of vendor-neutral structured information standards.” XML.ORG also received endorsement from the CommerceNet consortium. “This effort to establish an industry supported and open portal to exchange XML information is critical to the ongoing evolution of what is quickly becoming a mission critical component of electronic commerce,” said Randall Whiting, President and CEO of CommerceNet. “CommerceNet will integrate XML.ORG into its member web site and use the shared environment to collaborate on key joint efforts in furthering interoperable electronic commerce.” OASIS Takes the Lead A recent Forrester Research study on industry standards participation found that while 75 percent of IT executives are aware of standards groups in their industries, less than one-third of their companies participate. “This statistic shows that the market is waiting for an organization like OASIS to take the lead,” said Bill Smith, Vice President of OASIS. “We will provide an environment in which all industry players will be able to help make the universal data exchange capabilities of XML a reality for their market.” As XML rapidly becomes the key data interchange format on the Web, customers and developers will turn to XML.ORG for direct access to key industry-specific XML specifications, while business and industry organizations will look to OASIS for assistance in designing these specifications. “Customers are seeking an authoritative industry leader to advise them on how best to use XML in their business and industry. Some fear being locked into vendor-specific implementations and seek a trusted partner for the development of XML languages,” said Laura Walker, Executive Director of OASIS. “OASIS has a six-year track record in the open, vendor-neutral development of specifications for structured data. XML.ORG is a natural extension of that work.” An XML Industry Portal The industry portal at XML.ORG will provide a center for XML interoperability in five key areas. * First, XML.ORG will provide a registry and repository for the access and management of XML schemas and other public resources (DTDs, namespaces, stylesheets, public key certificates, etc.). Through XML.ORG, industry groups will be able to register their XML data exchange specifications, individuals will be able to look for specifications in their areas of interest, and applications will be able to access XML resources needed when acting on an XML document. For example, a software vendor or trade group might register a DTD for purchase orders, a developer might search the site registry for a purchase order DTD before writing supply-chain software, and a procurement application that receives a purchase order referencing that DTD but not finding it on its local system could automatically obtain the DTD from the repository to resolve the reference and continue processing. Through XML.ORG, OASIS will complement the work of other standards bodies by providing a central clearinghouse for access to XML-related specifications. * Second, the XML.ORG site will implement an architecture employing existing and emerging standards for XML registry/repositories, work that is currently under development as an OASIS technical initiative. This architecture will allow vendors to create interoperable versions of the registry for use within industry organizations, communities, and corporations. A registry/repository based on the common architecture might be used for a corporate intranet for ERP applications or by an industry organization for sharing information among its members. XML.ORG will maintain a “root” registry that will point to compatible registries and repositories maintained by participating organizations as well as to resources in its own repository. * Third, XML.ORG will serve as an information portal for the work of OASIS-hosted industry groups defining and extending domain-oriented XML specifications for industries that lack XML expertise or the ability to support and refine these specifications on an ongoing basis. OASIS has recently modified its membership structure to facilitate the participation of industry groups in the definition of XML specifications and other OASIS technical activities. Any OASIS participant may propose the formation of a working group to define or extend an OASIS-hosted industry standardization effort. * Fourth, XML.ORG will provide a public source for interoperability guidelines to ensure that XML can fulfill the vision of providing for the open exchange of structured data. This work extends an ongoing OASIS technical initiative to ensure XML conformance in cooperation with the U. S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). * Fifth, XML.ORG will provide a public source for XML educational and training materials developed by OASIS. Initially, http://xml.org (http://209.41.125.73) will provide basic resources to the XML community such as Robin Cover’s popular SGML/XML pages, details of various industry schema efforts, free XML software, a link to IBM’s xCentral XML search engine, news and education relevant to the XML community. As it evolves, XML.ORG will become the reference portal for XML developers, pointing them to available schemas and other XML industry specifications. Through the site, XML developers will be able to search for existing specifications used in their industry and to monitor the work of groups designing specifications for their particular market niche. When the registry/repository becomes fully functional later this year, the portal will serve as a mechanism for the automatic resolution of DTD, schema, and stylesheet references, providing an invaluable resource for XML-based e-commerce and serving as a model for the distribution of such services. Open for Partnership “The need for an XML registry has been recognized by a number of organizations,” noted Jon Bosak, long-time OASIS supporter and the leader of the W3C working group that developed XML. “The problem has been how to build and maintain a site at the necessary level of service without putting it under the control of one dominant industry player. OASIS solves that problem by providing an established non-profit organization that can be trusted to operate a site funded by the big companies that need this service in order to make open e-business really work.” Companies with the vision to invest in the basic infrastructure of electronic commerce by funding the XML.ORG web site are called XML.ORG partners. Founding partners will be given the one-time opportunity to join the XML.ORG Steering Committee, which is responsible for setting XML.ORG priorities, defining the technical direction of the portal, and determining what kinds of XML specifications are in or out of scope for the XML registry. OASIS is currently engaged in discussions with several companies that have already expressed strong interest in becoming XML.ORG partners. About OASIS OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (http://www.oasis-open.org), is a non-profit, international consortium of users and vendors founded in 1993 and dedicated to the promotion of open specifications for the interchange of structured data. Currently, OASIS is focused on the definition and implementation of XML-based vertical industry specifications. It also hosts CGM Open, an organization devoted to the deployment of the CGM vector graphics format. ENDORSEMENTS CONTACT: Executive Director, OASIS 460 Boston Road Post Office Box 455 Billerica, MA 01821 +1-877-645-7352 www.oasis-open.org xml.org ###