CommerceNet to Manage OBI Consortium

The OBI Consortium, the organization that created the Open Buying on the Internet standard, formed a strategic
partnership with CommerceNet, the industry association for Internet commerce.

CommerceNet will be replacing SupplyWorks, an Internet commerce
services company, in managing the Boston-based OBI Consortium. The Consortium
will retain its independence and at the same time benefit from the expertise
and status CommerceNet has achieved in promoting interoperability in
electronic commerce, the organizations said.

Monica Luechtefeld, president of the OBI Consortium, said: “This strategic
partnership with CommerceNet supports the evolution of the Consortium and
allows us a unique opportunity to leverage CommerceNet’s considerable
electronic commerce experience to further the support and adoption of the OBI
standard.”

She added that “the SupplyWorks organization performed a commendable service not only to the Consortium but to the Internet commerce community in both expertise and leadership through our challenging formative period.”

“A close working relationship with OBI will benefit both organizations and our members by expanding the scope and value of electronic commerce,” said Randall C. Whiting, president and CEO of CommerceNet.

The OBI Consortium grew out of the Internet Purchasing Roundtable, which was
formed by a group of Fortune 500 companies and their key suppliers in October
1996. Their goal was to provide access to easy-to-use, open, standards-based
Internet purchasing solutions for the procurement of high-volume, low-dollar
indirect goods and services.

Through a consensus-based process that included consultation with technology
providers and financial institutions, the Roundtable participants developed
the OBI Standard, which is based upon a common business vision, and includes a generic set of requirements, an architecture, and an exact technical
specification. OBI standard 1.0 was released in May, 1997.