A. 10.10.2000 is a milestone date marking the successful production-system implementation of RosettaNet standards by many of the consortium's 300 partners. More than 60 companies headquartered in Asia, Europe and the Americas will demonstrate that they have moved from "commitment to implementation" on this date.

A. 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. More than 300 companies representing over $1 trillion in annual information technology, electronic components and semiconductor manufacturing revenues currently participate in RosettaNet's standards development, strategy and implementation activities.

A. RosettaNet took its name from the Rosetta Stone, a black basalt slab inscribed with three different dialects that helped crack the code of Egyptian hieroglyphics. The stone and its inscription enabled historians to understand the meaning of a lost, ancient language.

RosettaNet is also working to build a "lingua franca," or common language all companies can use to more efficiently communicate and conduct e-business. This electronic conversation can enable the alignment of processes between supply chain partners around the world.

A. RosettaNet was founded in 1998 by 40 leading IT and EC companies, which recognized the importance of creating common interface processes for all businesses conducting supply chain business via the Internet.

A. RosettaNet's mission is to harness the global and pervasive reach of the Internet by defining and leading the implementation of open, common e-business processes based on non-proprietary standards.

A. During the next two years, the consortium will: institutionalize its Partner Interface Processesâ„¢ (PIPsâ„¢), gain adoption and implementation of its standards by RosettaNet members, and globalize international efforts throughout Europe and Asia and other regions worldwide.

A. The evolution of the digital marketplace has compelled companies to conduct business and work with other organizations in the supply chain in new, more efficient ways. RosettaNet will ultimately make the supply chain much more efficient and facilitate global e-commerce transactions between closely aligned business partners.

A. Success can be defined as the global adoption of RosettaNet's open standards by major players in the IT and EC industries, through the use of PIPs by multiple trading partners as well as industry-wide recognition and acceptance of the RosettaNet initiative.

RosettaNet's opportunity for success is unprecedented. RosettaNet is establishing a common language that will help alignment of business processes between supply chain partners around the world. Working to develop and deploy standardized electronic business interfaces, this independent non-profit consortium is making it possible for companies in the supply chain to not only compete, but thrive in the new digital economy by leveraging the Internet as an efficient business-to-business commerce tool.

Unlike other organizations focused on implementing proprietary solutions, RosettaNet develops and adopts existing open e-business standards, guidelines or specifications wherever possible and creates new e-business frameworks where necessary.

A. RosettaNet has the technological and corporate support at the highest levels within the tech industry. Many of the members are fierce industry competitors that have set aside their differences and corporate objectives to work together to further the success of the entire industry. Pledging financial support and willing to adopt RosettaNet's standards, consortium members expect to significantly improve their trading partner relationships and succeed in a digital economy whose rules of business continue to evolve.

The cooperative model set forth by the participating members of RosettaNet serves as an example for other industries that are ineffectively operating in today's fiercely competitive global business environment.

A. RosettaNet is an ambitious standards implementation effort and has grown to include the participation of over 300 companies worldwide within only two years. It has addressed issues related to the implementation of its standards in North America, as well as Europe and Asia - expanding its global presence with the opening of its European headquarters and RosettaNet Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. Companies in other countries including Korea and India are also actively involved.

A. The RosettaNet initiative has garnered the executive involvement of many of the world's most influential companies in the IT and EC industries. Due to the magnitude of its mission, members of the IT and EC supply chains have formed an Executive Board, as well as three Supply Chain Managing Boards -- the IT Managing Board, EC Managing Board and SM Managing Board -- which are committed to quickly and effectively creating and implementing e-business process standards. RosettaNet's global organizational infrastructure also consists of Regional Boards that oversee activities and Partner participation in Japan, Europe, Taiwan and Singapore. Current member companies represent more than $1 trillion in IT, EC and SM industry revenues.

A. Jennifer Hamilton, formerly director of e-business at Quantum Corporation, is currently chief executive officer of RosettaNet. Hamilton is assuming leadership of RosettaNet as an executive on-loan from Quantum.

A. Any manufacturer, distributor, reseller, shipper or end-user in the IT, EC or SM supply chain can join RosettaNet as a Supply Chain Partner. Members provide the subject matter expertise and human resources for the interface development project teams. These members also vote to approve interfaces and serve to champion the initiative and the implementation of RosettaNet standards with their trading partners.

A. Any technology or service provider such as a systems integrator, software developer or consultant may apply for membership as a Solution Partner. These partners play an essential role as they provide needed services, consulting, resources and tools that enable Supply Chain Partners to implement RosettaNet business process interfaces. Members benefit directly through RosettaNet's services and contacts with participating organizations.

A. Coalition Partners include non-profit trade associations, standards bodies or government agencies. Essentially these partners enlarge the organization's constituency and provide constructive input on standards within the framework of the development process. These members' involvement in RosettaNet also helps to speed projects and create widely adopted standards.

A. RosettaNet was first to develop electronic technical and business properties dictionaries designed to provide a common business language that will link an entire industry's supply chain business processes. The dictionaries provide a common platform from which to discuss and conduct business practices within the supply chain, eliminate the overlapping efforts by individual businesses and reduce the confusion in the procurement process due to each company's uniquely defined terminology. Combined with RosettaNet's Implementation Framework (RNIF), these dictionaries form the basis for the implementation of Partner Interface Processes (PIPs).

A. Partner Interface Processes (PIPs) are specialized system-to-system, XML-based dialogs that define how business processes are conducted between trading partners in the IT, EC or SM supply chain. Developed by teams of RosettaNet members, the PIPs provide common business/data models and documents that enable system developers to implement standardized e-business interfaces.

A. The RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) defines the RosettaNet object and specifies how it is transported between trading partners. It provides common exchange protocols whereby business servers exchange information by adopting HTML/XML as its "alphabet" in order to communicate.

A. Members joined in unison on June 10, 1999 to formally initiate EConcert, the implementation stage of RosettaNet. During this implementation stage, the selected members formed partnerships of two to six companies. Fifteen member companies committed resources to the pilot program designed to test one or more RosettaNet PIPs that fulfill supply chain business processes such as catalog updates, price changes or new product introductions.

Econcert is the term used to describe the orchestration of RosettaNet implementations, and encompasses programs and regular partner meetings focused on implementation, education, support and collaboration.