iPlanet Introduces XML-Based ECXpert 3.5

iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, announced the availability of iPlanet ECXpert 3.5, a server-side B2B software solution that routes and converts documents between designated senders and receivers. iPlanet ECXpert works across multiple protocols, partner types, and technology types, further enabling the rapid growth of these e-commerce networks, lowering transactions costs and improving collaboration with key business partners. With improved scalability and performance, iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 software boosts iPlanet integration offerings and enhances its position as a leading provider of XML-based products, while reinforcing its support for open standards.

As a B2B solution, iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 offers the most comprehensive range of business information exchange services, including document routing and conversion facilities, across a broad range of industry standards. Business partners, suppliers, and customers can now be integrated into a robust e-commerce network that facilitates all critical e-commerce activities, including online procurement, B2B selling, and customer relationship management, among others. iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 software is also a major component in the iPlanet Commerce Services Platform, enabling networks to grow even as the diversity of suppliers and partners expands.

"In spite of substantial progress, the B2B world still is built on a conglomeration of disparate business systems and data definitions," says Stuart Wells, senior vice president of iPlanet. "iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 resolves this issue by acting as a clearing house that both translates documents and delivers them in a timely, organized fashion to the intended recipient."

In today's B2B environment, organizations face the challenge of having to seamlessly interact with one another, regardless of system, protocol, or other technology choices each organization has made. iPlanet ECXpert software provides the cross-enterprise interaction glue so organizations can easily exchange critical business information in the form of convertible documents. Customers who implement iPlanet ECXpert benefit from improved collaboration with key business partners, and overall lower transaction costs, as a result of iPlanet ECXpert's widespread support of various protocols and industry standards.

iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 software enhances the queuing of documents, minimizes information bottlenecks and efficiently processes rapidly-submitted data. With priority processing, iPlanet ECXpert now has the ability to handle translations based on specific rules and priorities. While some vendors force organizations to process documents on a first-in, first-out basis, iPlanet ECXpert provides organizational flexibility to process by priority type. High priority documents will be handled immediately and processed before lower priority documents. This minimizes companies' time to market based on expedient implementation of document processing. In conjunction with billing codes, this allows a service provider to offer different pricing for different levels of service.

To accommodate the emerging role of XML as a universal data medium in B2B, iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 now offers full XML parsing support, full XML translation support, priority processing, billing code support, HTTP/SSL support, and support for the automotive standard -HTTP for AIAG. iPlanet ECXpert's XML capabilities allow XML to be sent and received from any business partner, irrespective of document type, thereby substantially increasing the information exchange capabilities within the trading network. This enables organizations to expand the reach of their trading networks by an order of magnitude, and iPlanet ECXpert provides the bridge between disparate systems, processes and technologies used by each partner in the network.

iPlanet ECXpert Provides BridgePoint with Intelligent Data-Management Solution

BridgePoint Inc, for example, needed an Internet-based solution capable of enabling millions of highly complex B2B collaborations and integrating them with any number of existing systems, applications and files. BridgePoint's market-leading supply chain solution enables customers such as WalMart, Procter & Gamble and Xerox to monitor and manage their logistics activity and supply chain performance. iPlanet ECXpert manages BridgePoint's globally accessible system that enables customers to send and monitor purchase orders, supplier orders and track subsequent shipments across multiple providers, regions, and all modes of transportation. BridgePoint's customers can more easily deliver and access information, while enabling the company to expand its integration functionality with existing systems, ERP applications, and files of any format. iPlanet ECXpert provides the necessary infrastructure backbone that allows BridgePoint to enable customers to manage their supply chains via the Web on a 24x7 basis.

"We've built the most comprehensive supply chain trading community on the market today, and we did it with iPlanet ECXpert software," states Richard Lower, director of marketing and strategic alliances for BridgePoint Inc. "BridgePoint is experiencing both rapid growth with transaction volumes in excess of four million per month, and greater complexity in message types. We process XML, EDI-X12, edifact, ERP files, and proprietary files from a wide variety of supply chain players including customers and their suppliers, freight forwarders, brokers, carriers and distribution centers. iPlanet ECXpert is a critical component in our solution and we know we can count on iPlanet to continue to provide leading e-commerce products."

About iPlanet ECXpert 3.5

iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 software, a component of the iPlanet family of e-commerce solutions, is a server-side B2B software solution that intelligently manages document data flow between organizations over the Internet and private networks. iPlanet ECXpert's XML capabilities allow data to be sent and received from any business partner, irrespective of document type, thereby substantially increasing the information exchange capabilities within the trading network. Either as a stand alone application or as a component participating in the iPlanet Platform, iPlanet ECXpert 3.5 provides a compelling integration solution that enables businesses to rapidly build customer and supplier networks that seamlessly link back-end systems of one organization with those of another.

Pricing and Availability

iPlanet ECXpert is immediately available beginning at a list price of $100,00 per two CPU's. Pricing is subject to change.

About iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions

iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions, a Sun-Netscape Alliance, was established in March 1999 by America Online Inc and Sun Microsystems Inc to power the next wave of the net economy through thought leadership, technical innovation, expert services and the creation of the exceptional customer satisfaction. The iPlanet Internet Service Deployment Platform is the industry's leading software environment designed to enable rapid assembly and deployment of scalable Internet services. Based on best-of-breed, open and proven technologies, the platform includes the worlds #1 Messaging, Directory, Web and Application Servers. For more information, consult the iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions Web site at www.iplanet.com.

Contact Sonya Hotaling of KVO Public Relations, 503-221-7405, sonya--hotaling@kvo.com for iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions.