ISID and iPlanet forge alliance in electronic
commerce and EAI solution fields
Information Services International - Dentsu, Ltd. (ISID, headquartered in Nakano, Tokyo; Jutaro Takinami, CEO; ¥743 million in capital) and iPlanet E-commerce Solutions Japan (iPlanet, Asahiko Suetsugi, CEO) have formed a marketing alliance that will bundle Application Integrator (AI; a GEIS product sold by ISID) as the format translation engine module for iPlanet ECXpert, an enterprise-targetted EAI software package sold by iPlanet.
It is anticipated this alliance will be a boon to both companies, in
that it should enable iPlanet to position ECXpert in the market as an even
more-powerful electronic commerce and EAI solution, while helping ISID to
expand sales of AI.
AI is a format translator that is designed to handle a variety of proprietary application formats, conventional domestic and overseas EDI standard formats, as well as XML and an assortment of proprietary ERP data formats.
Utilizing AI as its format translation module makes ECXpert compatible with a vastly wider range of applications. It is anticipated this modification will foster the widespread implementation of ECXpert, especially in those ERP-related fields where it commands an edge.
ECXpert now has the scalability to handle data in XML format, noted as being essential for electronic commerce. This scalability is expected to promote the products adoption by customers interested in eventually converting their in-house data to XML form.
Joining forces with iPlanet, a partner with a powerful lineup of products
for the fast-growing electronic commerce and EAI markets, will likely ensure
ISID access to new marketing channels, enabling heightened sales of AI.
Product names:ECXpert
AI(Application Integrator)
Prices:starting from ¥4.95 million for ECXpert and from ¥1.56 million for
AI (Prices do not include fees for consulting or system configuration.)
Operating environment:UNIX,
Scheduled market entry:late Nov. 2000
Sales framework:For iPlanet ••••••sales through marketing channels
For ISID ••••••direct sales and referral sales from iPlanet
Support framework:ECXpert•••Support for ECXpert from iPlanet partners; for AI, from ISID
Sales target:30 sets by both companies combined, by the end of FY 2000 (March 31, 2001)
ECXpert is an application for Internet commerce exchange that helps to automate and manage the processes deriving from interconnections between business organizations over the Internet or through established network links. Features include the ability to encrypt and transfer electronic documents and messages.
Key features
• Automates and reinforces business process flow between new or established business partners.
• Enhances existing EDI programs.
• Allows control by members in trading communities of every scale
• Manages the integration of internal and external applications and processes.
AI is a format translation package that is capable of converting between practically every type of client format. In addition to translating between existing application formats and conventional EDI standard formats used both domestically and overseas, it can also handle XML as well as an assortment of proprietary ERP data formats. Furthermore, AI provides clients with a streamlined GUI-based development environment and supports ready integration with other internal and external systems.
Key features
• Any-to-any approach enables conversion to and from any supported format.
• Extensive mapping features provided through simple-to-use GUI.
• Supports UN/EDIFACT, ANSI X12, and other international EDI standards as well s CII/EIAJ and other domestic EDI standards.
• Supports integration with assorted ERPs (SAP, Oracle, Baan, etc.).
• Also handles the XML and RosettaNet formats.
Outline of iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions
Headquarters:501 E. Middlefield Rd. Mountain View,CA94043 USA
CEO:Mark Tolliver
Establishment date:July 1, 1999
Work force:2400
No. of overseas offices:18
Business scope:provision of integrated enterprise-targetted electronic
commerce solutions
Outline of iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions Japan
Corporate offices:
Sun Microsystems Corp.
iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions Japan
4-10-1 Yoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8633
Phone: 03-5717-4900
Netscape Communications Japan, Inc.
Tokyo Opera City Tower, 3-20-2 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
163-1429
Phone: 03-5354-1700
