Partner Press Release
XML Leader webMethods Commends RosettaNet; Company Joins RosettaNet as an Architect Partner

Global Initiative Seeks Open and Common Business Interfaces for IT Supply Chain

For Release June 7, 1998

Fairfax -- webMethods, Inc., the leading provider of XML-based solutions for business-to-business e-commerce, today announced support for RosettaNet, a global initiative to adopt open and common business interfaces created to advance IT supply chain interaction worldwide. webMethods is the first XML vendor to join RosettaNet as an architect partner.

"webMethods commends RosettaNet for its initiative to develop, promote and foster adoption and implementation of open standards and solutions for increasing IT supply chain and electronic commerce efficiency," says Phillip Merrick, President and CEO of webMethods. "RosettaNet members and partners represent an unparalleled powerhouse of IT supply chain expertise, ensuring that it will have tremendous influence on electronic business interfaces worldwide."

As a RosettaNet architect partner, webMethods is responsible for providing its expertise to help define new business interfaces and to identify existing ones that should be adopted into the supply chain. webMethods will also be responsible for promoting and implementing the agreed upon business interfaces through its own company and IT supply chain partners.

"Implementing supply chain management solutions is accompanied by two prohibitive factors: interoperability and cost-effectiveness," says Merrick. "The ability to automate the supply chain process is dependent upon the creation of non-proprietary interfaces that ease integration between the supplier and its customer."

"RosettaNet represents a collaborative effort for the development of specifications and interoperability agreements to make the IT supply chain more efficient," says Chase Bailey, chairman of RosettaNet's Managing Board and Principal Technologist at Cisco Systems. "As a pioneer developer of business-to-business integration solutions, webMethods understands the importance of using technology based on non-proprietary standards to link businesses and business processes. As such, we view the company as a valuable asset in achieving and promoting RosettaNet initiatives.