The ACORD Transaction Working Group met recently to tackle the necessary infrastructure and protocol needed to effectively transport XML transactions. Participating in the working group are Microsoft, Travelers, PMSC, SAFECO, NCFocus, National Grange Mutual, Symmetry Technology Labs, Progressive, APT, Ontos, ISO, Hartford, Applied Systems, Kemper, Delphi, IVANS, CGU, AMS, St. Paul, Docucorp, and others. Concurrently, the Data Requirements Working Group is analyzing the AL3 and ObjX standards in order to assure that all lines, including Personal, Commercial, Surety, Claims, and Accounting, are included in the initial dictionary. This group was formed out of the recently announced joint initiative between ACORD and the Independent Insurance Agents of America’s (IIAA) Agent’s Council for Technology (ACT). Working toward an August 31, 1999 deliverable, the groups plan to complete the ACORD Insurance XML Dictionary. The objective, introduced by IIAA/ACT, is to prevent industry fragmentation by providing a base dictionary for the production of all future insurance XML transactions. IIAA/ACT is an advisory board of agent and industry representatives, formed by the IIAA to foster understanding and better utilization of technology in the independent agency system. ACT also helps to provide technology education, acts as a catalyst for the research and practical implementation of technology, and monitors related legislative developments. www.acord.org
Year: 1999 (Page 56 of 97)
Prophet 21, Inc.announced its commitment to support the BizTalk Framework by developing industry-specific schemas that will enable the exchange of business information for the Prophet 21 customer base. In addition to committing to develop and use BizTalk XML schemas, Prophet 21 is participating in the alpha/beta program for Microsoft BizTalk Server and is working to ensure BizTalk Server and schemas will integrate with Prophet 21 products, including Prophet 21 Wholesale and Prophet 21 Acclaim. These BizTalk-enabled solutions will allow businesses to easily exchange documents with online trading partners regardless of the platform technology underlying each company’s systems. Prophet 21 Wholesale customers will enjoy support for BizTalk schemas later this year.www.p21.com
Novell, Inc. unveiled its solution for helping customers link business data for easy use in electronic business applications. Novell demonstrated a new software solution called DirXML. Extending the capabilities of Novell Directory Services (NDS) 8, this new solution links and manages all the places where business and network information is stored. This includes software applications, network operating systems, databases and network devices. This is the first solution based on a directory that not only brings all data together, but also keeps control of the information with the individual departments that own the data. DirXML will connect all data without the need to modify existing software, allowing companies to build on their existing technology investments. Novell has received support for DirXML from partner companies including Bowstreet, Bulletproof Corporation, Compaq Computer Corporation, enCommerce Inc., Entrust Technologies Inc., HAHT Software, Intracus, ISOCOR, Netegrity, NetPro, Oblix Inc., Unimax Systems Corporation. By utilizing XML, Novell’s DirXML will enable companies to connect multiple databases and applications without the need to modify their existing software — thereby getting the most out of their technology investments. A beta-testing version of DirXML will be available for customers to evaluate in Q4 1999. The final product is expected to ship in 2000 and pricing will be announced at that time. The first version of DirXML will support Novell’s NetWare and Microsoft NT operating system environments, with support for Sun Solaris and Linux platforms to follow soon after the initial release. www.novell.com
Information Architects Corporation has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent Office covering its Web application server technologies. The patent allowance covers technologies at the core of Information Architects’ (iA) Metaphoria Virtual Web Server products. Metaphoria enables rapid development of Internet products and applications for business users that require efficient access to data from multiple sources. Metaphoria enables data residing in mainframes, client server systems, web servers, Internets and Extranets to be divorced, parsed, combined, personalized and viewed REAL-TIME from any Internet accessible device such as a PC, PDA, WebTV, Palm VII or WinCE device. Metaphoria can not only let the user view selected data but it can update the data across multiple systems in real time with the click of the mouse. www.ia.com
Bowstreet Software, Inc. announced that it will lead work to define an industry standard for describing directory service information in XML. The effort to develop a Directory Services Markup Language (DSML) builds upon work performed by Bowstreet while creating its Web Services Architecture. The DSML effort will be supported by industry leaders IBM, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle, and the Sun-Netscape Alliance to provide customers more flexibility in using and sharing directory information in XML-enabled applications. DSML provides a way to use directory information without knowing the specific data formats of each directory. End users will benefit because Web-based applications can be aware of their directory policy and profile information and adapt accordingly. Additionally, DSML enables “friction-free” eCommerce value chains to be integrated across corporate boundaries based on directory information. This capability provides an essential building block as directories play a more significant role on the Internet. Furthermore, DSML complements the goals of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and helps to extend the power of LDAP to web-based applications. Bowstreet and supporting companies plan to submit a proposal to appropriate standards bodies. There is an information Web site at www.dsml.org. Additional group members are expected to be added in the future. www.bowstreet.com
Interwoven, Inc. and Lexington Software Associates (LSA) announced an agreement for Interwoven to acquire LSA. LSA was founded in 1997 to help companies create quality software and Web applications. Their consulting expertise is in configuration management, process management and implementation, and electronic asset management and troubleshooting. The Professional Services Organization (PSO) at Interwoven provides customized implementation of Interwoven software in order to leverage existing Web practices, tools and processes. PSO consists of three main practices: consulting, technical support and training. These represent a complete service offering as a complement to Interwoven
Verity, Inc. announced it has filed a registration statement in connection with a proposed underwritten public offering of 1,775,000 shares of its Common Stock, plus an over-allotment option of 266,250 shares. 1,500,000 of the shares (plus the shares in the over-allotment option) are being offered by Verity in a new financing, and 275,000 of the shares are being offered by certain stockholders. SG Cowen Securities Corporation, Banc of America Securities LLC, Dain Rauscher Wessels, a division of Dain Rauscher Incorporated, and SoundView Technology Group, Inc. are the underwriters of the offering. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State. www.verity.com
Plumtree Software announced it has shipped a new release of the Plumtree Corporate Portal. Enhancements include: A new Active Portal architecture for embedding third-party corporate tools and Internet services in the portal using modular components called Plumtree Portal Gadgets; Self-service personalization, for empowering users to choose the corporate content and services that they use every day for inclusion in a single portal page; Multi-server enterprise scalability, with support for more than 100,000 users; Web administration, with a sophisticated submission and approval process for enabling a wide range of users to contribute to the portal in a controlled way; and Security for the extranet and Internet, with complete access control for all portal contents, including search results. Pricing for the Plumtree Corporate Portal 3.0 begins at $100,000. The Plumtree Corporate Portal is available immediately. www.plumtree.com
