RosettaNet Global E-Business Standard Reaches Critical Mass in High Technology Sector.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2003

Industry Leaders Standardize Key Business Processes Using RosettaNet;

Consortium Continues Expansion Into New Geographies and Markets

RosettaNet, the technology industry's leading e-business standards consortium, today announced the release of the organization's 2002/2003 Annual Summary Report highlighting the successful implementations of RosettaNet standards by industry leading companies such as Intel, Nokia, Sony and dozens of other global leaders in the technology industry. The achievement of these implementations mark a point of critical mass for the RosettaNet standard as it continues to outpace new investments in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and other industry alternatives, across the high technology value chain.

The driving force behind RosettaNet's continued growth and stronghold in the industry is the commitment of its Board members and Partner companies. Among those leading the charge is Intel, Nokia and Sony, each of which have successfully demonstrated a forward thinking vision in the area of business-to-business integration.

For example, Intel publicly announced plans to end EDI business processes company-wide by 2006 and rely on RosettaNet as a key enabler to their future e-business strategy. To date, Intel has implemented RosettaNet as the company's standard for business-to-business integration with 89 of its trading partners in 17 different countries. The company processed more than 10 percent of its revenues and supplier purchases in 2002 using RosettaNet e-business technology standards. As reported, Intel transacted more than US$3 billion in customer orders and US$2 billion in supplier purchases on RosettaNet, increasing by approximately seven times the total amount of business processed via RosettaNet connections in one year.

RosettaNet is the primary enabler for Nokia's system-to-system integration with its demand supply network allowing the company to automate the extreme challenge of processing over 10 million components per hour. Currently, the major business groups within Nokia, including suppliers, contract manufacturers, logistics and customers, are involved in RosettaNet implementations across the globe.

In 2002, Sony centralized its vendor managed inventory system (VMI) by connecting with over 90 suppliers using the RosettaNet standard. Like Intel, Sony intends to replace EDI with RosettaNet. Sony's EDI replacement will initially cover their mass-production procurement, but in the longer term RosettaNet will replace EDI for all aspects of Sony's business.

"RosettaNet implementations continue to expand across the globe at an astounding rate," said Jennifer Hamilton, RosettaNet CEO. "The emphasis placed upon production implementations by our Board members and the role of RosettaNet standards as an integral part of company e-business strategies has been the underpinning to the consortium's proven success."

Over the past few years, RosettaNet Milestone Programs have served as unifying forces within the industry -- driving collaboration to solve critical supply chain challenges, aligning priorities within the high technology trading partner and solution provider communities and speeding development and production implementation. In 2002, RosettaNet production grew in excess of 270%, as measured by Board member company implementations, averaging 53 connections per company.

Effectively, 2002 implementation priorities for RosettaNet's Semiconductor Manufacturing Board were in the areas of Forecasted Inventory Management, led by JSR & NEC Corporation; Order Management, led by Motorola; Work-in-Process and Work Order, both led by TSMC. The Electronic Components Board focused on business processes relating to Design Engineering and Order Management in Japan, both led by Sony and Ship from Stock, led by Arrow Electronics.

In 2003, RosettaNet is expanding into new process areas with the introduction of Warranty Management, Sales Reporting, Payment, Billing, Materials Composition and Third-Party Logistics Milestone Programs. To date, the consortium has a total of 53 Partner Interface Processes(R) (PIPs(R)) in production, up from 38.

In addition to RosettaNet's success around production implementations, the consortium continues to focus on the creation of enablers for rapid and visionary standards development. In 2002, RosettaNet's Architecture Office and Board Members delivered a robust B2B standards roadmap, based upon existing and future e-business capabilities and trading partner network size. As part of this strategic roadmap, several standards infrastructure components, or Foundational Programs, were initiated and completed.

Specifically, the consortium released version 2.0 of the RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) core specification, as well as version 3.0 of the RosettaNet Technical Dictionary (RNTD), each viewed as a key enabler to trading partner adoption and implementation of RosettaNet e-business processes.

Software compliance and interoperability also played a significant role with the launch of RosettaNet Ready(TM). To support and enhance the activities around compliance and interoperability, the RosettaNet Solution Provider Board created and led a Software Interoperability Trial and several supply chain companies sponsored Interoperability Festivals throughout Asia. The consortium also launched a Developer Tools Library, complete with no-cost community resources to assist in the creation of tools for RosettaNet implementation and integration.

Asia demonstrated its leadership and support for the standard as represented by US$51M in government grants for RosettaNet implementations and projects through 2003. RosettaNet's expansion into the region remains strong with a Malaysia affiliate added in 2002 and a Philippines affiliate announced in 2003.

Looking ahead, RosettaNet will continue in its efforts toward growth in global adoption and implementation by expanding into new geographies and industry sectors. For instance, China has already experienced Board member driven implementations and the opportunities for deployment in this region is substantial. The newly formed Telecommunications Council, which will promote open, e-business standards in the telecommunications industry, signifies RosettaNet's intrinsic business value and ability to extend into other vertical markets.

RosettaNet's 2002/2003 Annual Summary Report is available online at www.rosettanet.org -- About RosettaNet -- Corporate Information.

About RosettaNet

RosettaNet is a non-profit consortium dedicated to the collaborative development and rapid deployment of open internet-based business standards that align processes within the global high technology and telecommunications trading networks. More than 500 companies, representing over $1 trillion in annual information technology, electronic components and semiconductor manufacturing revenues, currently participate in RosettaNet standards development, strategy and implementation programs. For more information on the consortium's worldwide activities in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and a complete list of Partner companies, visit www.rosettanet.org.

RosettaNet is a subsidiary of the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC).