DISA Unveils DRIve: A Prototype Registry of E-Business Specifications.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2002

The Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA) unveiled a working prototype of a registry for electronic business specifications from two of its vertical industry organizations: the Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX) Forum and the OpenTravel Alliance (OTA).

DISA bases the registry on the electronic business XML (ebXML) specifications, in which many members affiliated with DISA played an active development role. An ebXML Registry provides a critical foundation block for implementing next generation global electronic business exchanges.

The prototype registry, known as the DISA Registry Initiative or DRIve, offers a hands-on, real-time experience for visitors to learn more about IFX Forum and OTA specifications. Both the IFX Forum and OTA, industry affiliates of DISA, have written electronic business specifications based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and make their documents freely available.

The groups offered their specifications to DISA for use as test objects in DRIve. XML Global Technologies, a member of OTA and ASC X12, donated the registry software.

DRIve (http://www.disa.org/drive/) lists the specifications documents and XML schemas - either in the new XML Schema format or previous Document Type Definitions.

DRIve classifies the objects according to two standard industrial classifications, shows the relationship among the various specifications (called associations by the ebXML standards), and links the objects to external registries, in this case the XML.Org registry operated by OASIS. Visitors can also download the actual specifications documents from DRIve.

"The DRIve prototype will give our vertical industry affiliates a real-life way of determining how to best use this valuable resource," said Jerry Connors, president of DISA. "Ultimately, DRIve can evolve into a working registry for all of our vertical industry affiliates, opening opportunities not previously available, such as linking to multiple registries and registration of companies supporting their standards."

The Internet is transforming the face of business today and registry systems will in the future help manage highly collaborative environments for business communities worldwide.

"The DRIve initiative is ground breaking work helping to move concepts from the research laboratory into real-world business systems today," said Peter Shandro, CEO of XML Global Technologies Inc. "DISA has taken an important step forward for its members with this implementation and XML Global is proud to be able to assist and facilitate their efforts. Twenty years ago DISA helped establish EDI-based business interactions, now they are stepping forward to support XML-based systems of the future".

About DISA

The Data Interchange Standards Association (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

-- Meat and Poultry XML (mpXML)

-- 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 http://www.disa.org or call 703/548-7005.