DGI's Fourth ebMS Test Round Critical for Interoperability in Auto Sector; Fall Interoperability Testing Features Multi-Industry Profiles.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Drummond Group Inc. (DGI) today announced that its fourth ebMS interoperability test round will include data compression as recommended in the STAR (Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail) Transport Guidelines for establishing an open, common dealer IT infrastructure for automotive dealers, manufacturers and Retail Systems Providers (RSPs). Through eBusinessReady(R), an industry-neutral software certification program under joint partnership of the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC) and DGI, ebMS testing scheduled to begin in September also will test functionality relevant to the health-care industry.

ebMS is the messaging layer of the larger ebXML framework which encompasses partner agreements, business process definition, artifact registry and common data components. In addition to secure messaging, ebMS can be deployed as part of a web services architecture or as part of the larger ebXML framework. Interoperable ebMS software solutions help the automotive industry's efforts to improve operational efficiencies for their customers and trading partners by providing multiple software solutions with different features at an array of price points.

"Since 2001, Drummond Group has tested numerous ebMS products to support an interoperable worldwide marketplace," said Rik Drummond, DGI's chief executive officer and chief scientist. "In addition to testing, the eBusinessReady certification program was created to allow businesses to choose from a tested and certified interoperable list of software products that meets their needs. We are very excited to see the growth of cross-industry adoption of the ebMS standard under this initiative."

Six leading software companies, including bTrade, Inc., Cyclone Commerce, Inovis, SeeBeyond, Sterling Commerce and Sybase, participated in DGI's third round of ebMS interoperability testing in 2003. These solution providers which successfully completed the ebMS-3Q03 interoperability test round currently offer standards-based, interoperable ebMS solutions.

DGI's upcoming ebMS test round will include functionality that will have cross-industry relevance. For instance, the automotive industry will be addressed in this test round with the inclusion of data compression as recommended by the STAR Transport Guideline. The health-care sector is addressed by including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Public Health Information Network Messaging System (PHIN MS) guidelines for client authentication. And, message payload features recommended by Health Level 7 (HL7) will be included for the global health-care industry. To sign up for testing, go to: http://www.drummondgroup.com/html-v2/join.html

To learn more about driving large-scale deployment through interoperable systems, please read DGI's latest brochure, "Drummond Group Inc. Drives Large-Scale Deployment of Interoperable Software in the Automotive Sector," at: http://www.drummondgroup.com/html-v2/press-brochures.html

For specific ebMS test results, please visit: http://www.ebusinessready.org/.

About Drummond Group Inc.

Drummond Group Inc. (DGI) is an independent, privately held company that works with software vendors, vertical industries and the standards community to drive adoption for standards by conducting interoperability and conformance testing, publishing related strategic research and developing vertical industry strategies. Founded in 1999, DGI represents best-of-breed in the industry on linking horizontal infrastructure technologies, standards and interoperability issues with the needs of vertical industries such as retail, grocery, health care, transportation, government and automotive. For more information, please visit www.drummondgroup.com or email: [e-mail].