Partner Press Release
RosettaNet Effort To Create Universal E-Commerce Standard Top NEDA Priority

For Release June 9, 1999

Atlanta, GA -- The National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA) is dedicated to supporting the efforts of RosettaNet, a bold initiative to provide a common framework for business-to-business communications over the Internet.

RosettaNet is a mandate from the IT industry to establish global business process standards for a PC supply chain involving manufacturers, distributors, resellers and end users, with support from system architects and solution providers. It is governed by a Board of 34 companies that combined generate more than half of the PC sector's $700 billion in annual revenues.

"NEDA's involvement in RosettaNet is at the top of the association's priority list," said NEDA Executive Vice President Robin B. Gray, Jr. "We believe it is critical for us to participate in this groundbreaking large-group effort to create a universal e-commerce standard. It is an important step towards making it easier for electronic distributors and their supplier partners to do business online," he added.

As a RosettaNet coalition partner, NEDA's job is to spread the word within the electronic distribution industry and increase the support base and constituency of RosettaNet. Later this week, the association will be announcing additional plans to get the electronic distribution industry further involved in the RosettaNet initiative.

RosettaNet is defining and leading the implementation of open and common processes - an INFOstructure - designed to align the e-business interfaces between IT supply chain partners. By focusing on alignment of interfaces, RosettaNet does not impact the business model of any supply chain partner.

One of the factors making the RosettaNet effort unique is the rapid development of content and transactions standards. This is made possible through an unprecedented collaboration among RosettaNet participants beginning at the top with executive commitment to align business processes and extending into the technical ranks where employees from partner companies have contributed their time towards standards development.

The commitment continues into a phased implementation of partner-to-partner e-commerce, internally referred to as eConcert, from lab testing of concepts to pre-production pilots to live production implementations, beginning February 2, 2000. eConcert is currently in the pilot phase.

"NEDA is devoted to reducing costs in the distribution channel? one of the ways to do so is the adoption of RosettaNet as the e-commerce standard," said Gray.

About NEDA
NEDA is a not-for-profit trade association representing distributors of electronic components and their manufacturer-suppliers. Dedicated to enhancing the distributor/manufacturer relationship, NEDA represents companies involved in the distribution of electronic components, computer and computer peripheral components and test, measurement and control equipment parts. The association is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 1999.