RosettaNet Press Release
RosettaNet, Si2 To Collaborate On Electronic Component B2B Standards

ECIX QuickData 2 Technology To Become RosettaNet Offering

For Release May 15, 2000

SANTA ANA, CA --

RosettaNet and the Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) announced today that new RosettaNet standard electronic business interfaces for the business-to-business (B2B) exchange of technical information for Electronic Components will be based on Si2's Electronic Component Information Exchange (ECIX) QuickData technology. The resulting new RosettaNet "Partner Interface Process™ (PIP™) is designed to meet the needs for technical information exchange in the Electronic Component (EC) industry.

"The industry mandate to create standards for B2B exchange of technical information of all types among electronic component manufacturers, distributors, and end users is clear. By working together in the electronic component industry with experts such as Si2, RosettaNet members can quickly develop and deploy effective solutions based on existing technology," said Jennifer Hamilton, chief executive officer of RosettaNet.

"By joining forces and collaborating on standards affecting the Electronic Component community, this is a win-win solution for the industry," said Andrew Graham, chief executive officer of Si2. "Si2 is pleased that the ECIX QuickData technology can so quickly meet many of the RosettaNet requirements in the area of technical information exchange."

The new RosettaNet standard will be named PIP2A9, "Query Electronic Component Technical Information." The initial release of PIP2A9 will immediately add important new functionality to RosettaNet, while offering minimal migration impact to Si2 ECIX customers who have already invested in prior releases of ECIX QuickData. PIP2A9 Query Electronic Component Technical Information will offer important new functionality to RosettaNet companies in the electronic component area, such as:

• The ability to search for components that match selected parametrics across the industry by making simultaneous multicast queries to component manufacturers, distributors, and information providers who are listed in a "registry" of compliant companies.
• Enable further extensions including searching for components based on the RosettaNet "Electronic Components Technical Dictionary" (ECTD), a computer-sensible dictionary combining the work of the IEC, ECALS, Si2 and RosettaNet. This dictionary standardizes industry component classification (taxonomy) for the purposes of technical information exchange.
• Provide a high degree of compatibility with software and instances based on prior versions of QuickData.

About RosettaNet
RosettaNet is an independent, self-funded, non-profit consortium dedicated to the development and deployment of standard electronic business interfaces to align the processes between supply chain partners on a global basis. Launched in June 1998, RosettaNet is currently in the pilot phase of its implementation cycle.

More than 200 companies representing $1 trillion in annual information technology and electronic components revenues currently participate in RosettaNet's standards development, strategy, and implementation activities. A complete list of member companies and more information on RosettaNet is available at www.rosettanet.org.

About Si2 and ECIX
Silicon Integration Initiative, Inc. is an organization of industry-leading silicon systems and tool companies focused on improving productivity and reducing cost in creating and producing integrated silicon systems. The Si2 organization represents more than 40 semiconductor manufacturers, electronic systems companies, and EDA tool suppliers. Members are located throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. More information about Si2 is available from its web site at www.si2.org.

The ECIX program was formed in the second half of 1996. The goal of the ECIX project sponsors, Agilent Technologies, Hitachi, Intel, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, Philips Semiconductors, ST Microelectronics and Texas Instruments, is to provide a seamless flow of component information in both computer and human-sensible format from suppliers to end-use customers exploiting the latest media distribution technologies. For more information visit the ECIX web site at www.si2.org/ecix.