ANSI ASC X12 Approved Numerous Syntax Neutral Messages Expressed as XML Schema for Finance, Government, Insurance and Transportation Industries.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 approved and initiated work on a wealth of new messages enabling electronic data exchange of business information using ASC X12's Context Inspired Component Architecture (CICA) and EDI syntax. Containing a myriad of reusable components that can be expressed as XML schema, the five new X12 CICA messages are:

Finance

--STP (straight-through processing) Payment with Remittance enables users to pay several open account receivable items with one payment

Government

--Commercial Asset Visibility (CAV) Repair Item Receipt Notification, in the context of the U.S. Department of Defense CAV, communicates a repair contractor's receipt of an item

Insurance

--Coverage Request conveys information on requester, policy, insured entity and vehicle

--Coverage Response provides a formal response to an insurance coverage request

Transportation

--Transportation Status - General Use communicates information on requester, shipment references, interested party, status, equipment, shipping unit and entity responsible for scheduling an event

"This first collection of syntax neutral, reusable components seeds the X12 directories and provides a solid foundation for the next wave of X12 message development," said outgoing ASC X12 Chair Ralph Berwanger of FOX Systems, Inc. "These messages are simply the beginning of many more to come. The hardest work of refining CICA and validating its design rules is complete and now the much needed business solutions are ready for widespread adoption."

There are ten additional new CICA messages complete and under ASC X12 member review, including two transportation-related messages - Transportation Status-Small Package Use, and Transportation Freight Invoice - and eight government-related messages - Defense Logistics Management System (DLMS) 180 Customer Excess Report FTE-FTG, CAV Item Induction Notification, CAV Awaiting Parts Notification, CAV Item Reinduction Notification, CAV Repair Completion Notification, CAV Item Shipment Notification, CAV Condemn Notification, and CAV Proof of Shipment Notification.

Numerous additional X12 CICA messages and X12 EDI transactions are in development across ASC X12 and include Wide Area Workflow CICA message (government), Subrogation Work Assignment and Response CICA message (insurance), Customs Customer Profile Management as both an X12 CICA message and an X12 EDI transaction set (transportation), and Contract & Rebate Management X12 EDI transaction set (supply chain).

The X12 CICA messages are available via the X12 CICA workbook (.chm file), and via an Excel spreadsheet database output of all CICA constructs by contacting [e-mail]. The approved CICA messages expressed in XML syntax will be available in the coming weeks. The 315+ X12 EDI transactions sets can be purchased via www.X12.org or www.DISA.org.

ASC X12 members meet face-to-face three times per year to develop X12 standards, with the next meeting taking place February 5-10, 2006 in Seattle. Additional information on X12 EDI transaction sets and CICA messages can be found at www.X12.org.

About Accredited Standards Committee X12

The Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12, accredited by the American National Standards Institute and comprised of cross-industry representation, develops robust e-business exchange standards using its syntax neutral Context Inspired Component Architecture (CICA) and X12 EDI syntax. X12 standards interact with a multitude of e-business technologies and serve as a premier tool for integrating electronic applications. With more than 2,500 individuals representing 375+ corporate members, ASC X12 facilitates the effective exchange of electronic information through standards-setting and active participation in emerging and technically relevant initiatives. Fostering global business, ASC X12 is an active contributor to the United Nations/Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT), an international standard relating to the exchange of good and services. To learn more about ASC X12, visit www.X12.org or call 703-970-4480.