XAPIA Extends Common Messaging Call Standard to Serve Message-Reliant Applications.SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 1995--XAPIA, the X.400 Application Program Interface Association, today announced a new version of its Common Messaging Call application program interface (API) that supports additional features used by message-reliant applications such as workflow, calendaring, document management, and electronic data interchange See EDI. (application, communications) electronic data interchange - (EDI) The exchange of standardised document forms between computer systems for business use. EDI is part of electronic commerce. . The CMC (Common Messaging Calls) A programming interface specified by the XAPIA as the standard messaging API for X.400 and other messaging systems. CMC is intended to provide a common API for applications that want to become mail enabled. 1. 2.0 programming specification will sharply reduce the effort to develop interoperable message-reliant applications that operate on different platforms, across different mail systems, and in different LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. environments. Such interoperability preserves a user organization's investment in systems and platforms, extends the ways that different applications can communicate, and improves time to market for application vendors. Leading vendors and end user organizations including CE Software, Lotus, Tandem, Novell, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , Oracle, and Boeing have voiced their support for the CMC program. Niraj Jain, director, messaging servers at Oracle Corp., said, "The publishing of CMC 2.0 is a significant step in enabling the widespread development of messaging applications and end-user clients on a variety of platforms. Oracle in investigating not only the implementation of CMC 2.0, but is also evaluating the use of the XAPIA (X 4.00 API Association) A consortium dedicated to standardizing X.400 and other specifications, such as the CMC messaging API. Calendaring and Scheduling API Scheduling API - Scheduling Application Programming Interface ." CMC 2.0 is not tied to any operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. , messaging protocol The rules, formats and functions for exchanging messages between the components of a messaging system. The most widely used messaging protocol is the Internet's Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). , or hardware platform. It supports standard message formats such as X.400 and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) The standard e-mail protocol on the Internet and part of the TCP/IP protocol suite, as defined by IETF RFC 2821. SMTP defines the message format and the message transfer agent (MTA), which stores and forwards the mail. as well as proprietary message formats. CMC 2.0 builds on the CMC interface specifications introduced in 1993 and supported in product offerings from Collabra, ExcelleNet, Inmarsat, Lotus, Microsoft, Novell, and Tandem. Applications written to CMC 1.0 do not have to be rewritten to work in a CMC 2.0 environment. Applications written to CMC 2.0 provide CMC 1.0 support, as well. CMC 1.0 provides a simple, consistent way for application programs to send messages, read messages, and translate names into messaging addresses, the three basic capabilities required to add messaging functionality to an application. Microsoft has announced that CMC 1.0 will be part of MAPI (Mail API) A programming interface from Microsoft that enables a client application to send to and receive mail from Exchange Server or a Microsoft Mail (MS Mail) messaging system. Microsoft applications such as Outlook, the Exchange client and Microsoft Schedule use MAPI. 1.0 specification that will be released with Windows 95. Features for Message-Reliant Applications CMC 2.0 is intended for applications that rely on the store-and-forward capabilities provided by a messaging system. In addition to the simple send, receive, and address lookup functions in CMC 1.0, CMC 2.0 supports additional features between E-mail systems. Applications can notify a user of new mail, forward and reply to messages, import and export files, maintain multiple folders, and support addressing nicknames across platforms. CMC 2.0 allows a user or application to read from one messaging system and write to another, if both support the standard. XAPIA will introduce multimedia extensions to CMC later this year. A committee led by AT&T is extending the CMC 2.0 interface to include features of voice, fax, and video messaging. The extensions include the specification of greetings for call answering, message printing on fax machines, and control of links between different access devices like the telephone and the messaging system from the messaging API. This last feature enables the use of existing telephone interface for message creation and retrieval. Cross-Platform API By defining a boundary between a messaging system and an application, CMC 2.0 lets an application written to CMC 2.0 standards use the message transport facilities of any e-mail system supporting the standard. CMC 2.0 is ideal for development of cross-platform applications. That is, applications using CMC 2.0 are independent of the underlying network technology, local area networks, and wide area networks. Applications written to CMC 2.0 also interoperate independent of messaging system or operating system software. For message system developers who want to accommodate features specific to a message system or to include protocol-specific functions, XAPIA specified a procedure for extensions to CMC. Vendors of message systems can register extension sets with XAPIA to encourage consistent implementation across the industry and minimize the loss of portability extensions might generate. CMC 2.0 uses an object-oriented data model to promote programming flexibility and ease of use. Specification Available Online CMC 2.0, which includes sample code and an implementation guide, is available to the industry. It can be retrieved from the CompuServe GENCOM forum, XAPIA section, in a variety of formats. It is also posted on the Electronic Messaging Association's web site (http://www.ema.org/). XAPIA, an open, non-profit association, has developed X.400 and messaging standards used by many vendors and accepted by international standards bodies. Member companies are American Express, Arabesque arabesque (ărəbĕsk`) [Fr.,=Arabian], in art, term applied to any complex, linear decoration based on flowing lines. In Islamic art it was often exploited to cover entire surfaces. Software, Attachmate Canada, AT&T, Boeing Computer Services, BULL HN Information Systems, Campbell Services, CE Software, Collabra Software, Corporate Software and Technologies, Digital Equipment Corp., Enterprise Solutions, France Telecom, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, Hughes Aircraft, IBM, Infonet Software Solutions, Intel, Inmarsat, LinkAge Software Inc., Lotus Development Corp., Microsoft Corp., Microsystems Software, NetManage, Novell, ON Technology, Oracle, RAM Mobile Data RAM Mobile Data was originally founded by RAM Broadcasting Corporation as American Mobile Data Communications, Inc. in 1988[1]. The name of the company was changed to RAM Mobile Data in 1989. RAM Mobile Data was the U.S. Operator of the Mobitex network. , Retix, Siemens Nixdorf, Tandem Computers, Wingra, Worldtalk, and XcelleNet. CONTACT: LESLIE SCHROEDER PUBLIC RELATIONS public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most & MARKETING Leslie Schroeder, 408/446-9158 lschroeder@wynd n. 1. A narrow lane or alley. The narrow wynds, or alleys, on each side of the street. - Bryant. .net or XAPIA Ned Horvath, 515/221-1801 ned_horvath@cesoft.com |
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