Bowstreet to Lead Work On First XML Standard for Directory Services.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 1999--

IBM, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle, and Sun-Netscape Alliance 

Support Effort to Develop Directory Services Markup Language (DSML)

Bowstreet Software, Inc. (Bowstreet), today announced at the Catalyst 99 conference that it will lead work to define an industry standard for describing directory service information in the eXstensible Markup Language (XML). The effort to develop a Directory Services Markup Language (DSML) builds upon work performed by Bowstreet while creating its Web Services Architecture. The DSML effort will be supported by industry leaders IBM, Microsoft, Novell, Oracle, and the Sun-Netscape Alliance to provide customers more flexibility in using and sharing directory information in XML-enabled applications.

"DSML increases the value of directory services by enabling a new breed of XML applications," said Jamie Lewis, president of the Burton Group. "With the advent of DSML, companies can use directory information in web-based applications and exchange information with their customers and partners, regardless of which directory products they use. The combination of directory services and XML is a significant step forward in creating directory-enabled applications and accelerates the shift toward web service architectures."

DSML provides a way to use directory information without knowing the specific data formats of each directory. End users will benefit because Web-based applications can be aware of their directory policy and profile information and adapt accordingly. Additionally, DSML enables "friction-free" eCommerce value chains to be integrated across corporate boundaries based on directory information. This capability provides an essential building block as directories play a more significant role on the Internet. Furthermore, DSML complements the goals of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and helps to extend the power of LDAP to web-based applications.

"Companies are rapidly moving to publish business processes across the Internet as Web Services," said Jack Serfass, president and chief executive officer of Bowstreet. "DSML creates new opportunities for directory services to become the platform for this new generation of Web Services-based applications for eCommerce."

Bowstreet and supporting companies plan to submit a proposal to appropriate standards bodies. There is an information Web site at www.dsml.org. Additional group members are expected to be added in the future.

Industry leaders on DSML

"DSML is a perfect complement to LDAP," said Tim Howes, vice president, America Online, and co-creator of LDAP. "Many of the world's most successful Web sites have already deployed directory and XML technologies on their e-commerce sites. Marrying the two technologies will ultimately make the Web a safer, more convenient, and even easier place to do commerce."

"DSML has great potential to increase the value of e-business applications that rely on directories," said Jeff Jaffe, general manager, SecureWay, IBM. "DSML can play an important role in enabling directories by bringing directory services information into the XML world."

"Microsoft is looking forward to contributing to the DSML specification," said Dave Thompson, general manager, Server Product Group, Microsoft Corp. "Exposing enterprise identity information via XML will ensure that the Active Directory service in Windows 2000 Server will play an important role in Web and e-commerce applications."

"DSML is the future building block of the Internet and promises to vastly increase the value of directories for eCommerce and eBusiness applications," said Chris Stone senior vice president of strategic and corporate development for Novell, Inc. "As an Internet industry leader, Novell believes the combination of robust Novell Directory Services with the pioneering DSML standard will foster a new generation of powerful Web Services and XML-based applications."

"XML and the LDAP standard are key enabling technologies for e-business," said Jeremy Burton, vice president of Server Marketing at Oracle Corporation. "By bringing together these technologies, DSML promises to vastly increase the value of directories. Combined with Oracle's Internet Directory, this standard can deliver an open, scalable, and reliable infrastructure for e-business applications."

"DSML promises to vastly increase the value of directories for e-commerce applications, helping companies to compete more effectively in the Net Economy," said Stuart Wells, senior vice president of infrastructure products for the Sun-Netscape Alliance. "DSML is a building block that allows directories to work seamlessly together with other applications. It also enables enterprise directories to be more widely adopted as business resource locators within XML applications."

About Bowstreet

Bowstreet was founded to revolutionize the way companies with hybrid sales and distribution channels conduct eBusiness over extranets. At Enterprise Outlook, the company won the Investors Choice award, recognizing Bowstreet as one of the top startups in the nation. The company's products leverage XML and directory services technology to create Bowstreet's Web Services Architecture which is the foundation for dynamic B2B computing. Bowstreet is led by a world-class management team and is backed by three leading venture capital firms: Charles River Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Matrix Partners. Bowstreet's Web Services Architecture solutions work with the leading directory products from companies such as IBM (NYSE:IBM), Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq:MSFT), Netscape Communications Corporation, Novell Inc. (Nasdaq:NOVL), and Oracle Corporation (Nasdaq:ORCL). For more information, visit Bowstreet's Web site at http://www.bowstreet.com or contact Bowstreet at 603-436-9100.

Novell and Novell Directory Services are registered trademarks/service marks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SecureWay is a registered trademark of IBM in the United States. Oracle is a registered trademark. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.