ADVISORY/Distinguished Authors Demystify ebXML at a Presentation & Book Signing November 15, 2001, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...for Thursday (Nov. 15)

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2001,

Distinguished Authors Demystify ebXML at a Presentation & Book Signing

November 15, 2001, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA)

333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 600

Alexandria, Va. 22314

703/548-7005

The Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA) will hold a free presentation on the new international e-business standard, Electronic Business Extensible Markup Language or ebXML, on Nov. 15, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at DISA's offices in Alexandria, Va. (King Street Metro location).

The presentation will be led by Alan Kotok and David R.R. Webber, authors of the new book: ebXML: The New Global Standard for Doing Business On the Internet, New Riders Publishing, September 2001, ISBN 0735711178. The authors will answer questions and sign copies of the book after the presentation.

There is no admission charge for the presentation and book signing, but advance registration is required. Please e-mail Julia O'Brien at [e-mail] to RSVP.

Both the presentation and book are designed for business managers, but technical specialists are invited to attend as well. The discussion at DISA will address the following questions:

-- What is ebXML?

-- Where did ebXML come from? Who is behind it?

-- What will ebXML let my business do that other e-business standards do not?

-- What do companies need to begin using ebXML?

-- What kinds of businesses can use ebXML?

-- Can small businesses use ebXML?

-- What is in ebXML?

-- How does ebXML work with other e-business standards or systems?

-- What is the current status of ebXML?

In the book, Kotok and Webber present an executive overview of ebXML, including practical applications of the specifications, followed by a more detailed discussion for line managers and analysts. Readers can get updates on new developments in ebXML and e-business in general at a special Web site for the book: http://www.ebxmlbook.com. Members of DISA and its affiliated organizations can purchase the book at the discounted price of $35.00, a savings of $10.00 off the nonmember rate.

DISA's offices are located at 333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 600, two blocks from the King Street Metro station (blue and yellow lines), in Alexandria, Va. A pay parking garage is available with an entrance located at the rear of the building. For directions to DISA's offices, see http://www.disa.org/about_loctrans.cfm.

Alan Kotok is a Washington, DC reporter and writer on technology, business, and public policy, editor of E-Business Standards Today, published by DISA, and U.S. Techno-Politics on Suite101.com. Kotok joined DISA in October 1999 as standards manager for the OpenTravel Alliance and serves today as DISA's Director of Technical Development. He served previously with Graphic Communications Association as V.P. for Electronic Business and 15 years with U.S. Information Agency.

David R.R. Webber is Vice-President for Business Development for XML Global Technologies, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He is a cofounder of the XML/edi Group and an acknowledged authority on XML. Webber lectures frequently in the United States, Europe, and Asia, has more than 20 years' experience implementing business systems in a broad spectrum of industries, and is a U.S. patent holder for advanced EDI software technologies.

For additional information, please call Julia O'Brien at 703/837-6155 or e-mail [e-mail].

DISA is home for the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 and industry groups developing e-business standards that provide the foundation enabling individuals and organizations to participate in global e-business. Driving an array of e-business initiatives, DISA provides technical and administrative support to its affiliated organizations:

-- ASC X12

-- Chemical Industry Data eXchange (CIDX)

-- Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA)

-- Interactive Financial eXchange (IFX) Forum

-- Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO)

-- OpenTravel Alliance (OTA)

Propelling global e-business, ASC X12 serves as the entry point for the United States into the United Nations/Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT), an international standard relating to the exchange of trade goods and services. To learn more about DISA, visit www.disa.org or call +1 703/548-7005.