GE Global eXchange Services, Commerce One Pair Up

B2B Internet commerce operation GE Global eXchange Services and trading
solutions provider Commerce One Inc. are
teaming up to form a B2B alliance that “will bring together their
complementary technologies and marketplace strengths.”

The alliance aims to increase access to more open
e-marketplaces around the world. Definitive agreements regarding the
alliance are expected
to be executed during the third quarter. Financial details were not disclosed.

Commerce One’s e-marketplaces will be supported by Global eXchange Services’
transaction processing and trading partner enablement capabilities. The
resulting
interoperability between GXS’ data transaction and translation technology and
services (including EDI) and Commerce One’s XML Common Business Library
(xCBL) based e-commerce solutions is expected to increase the number of
buyers and sellers that can transact business with one another on a global
basis, the companies said.

The alliance will also provide GXS’ network of 100,000 trading partners with
access to the scores of open e-marketplaces in Commerce One’s Global Trading
Web. Access will be provided using Commerce One’s e-procurement solution,
BuySite Portal Edition, which GXS has licensed.

“Key to this agreement is the unprecedented synergy between GXS’ data
transaction and translation services and Commerce One’s web-based solutions,”
said Harvey Seegers, president and chief executive officer of GE Global eXchange Services. “We
expect the result to provide significantly more real-time transactions
between buyers and sellers worldwide.”

“We anticipate that our alliance with GXS will allow companies to combine the
flexibility and power of Web-based trading with the efficiencies of
computer-to-computer trading to increase transparency and boost cost savings
throughout the supply chain.” said Robert Kimmitt, president of Commerce One.

Commerce One says its Global Trading Web is the world’s largest
business-to-business
trading community, comprised of multiple open e-marketplaces.