vcerf@NRI.Reston.VA.US (12/21/90)
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20 Dec 90 11:31 EST
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 90 16:21 GMT
From: Gary Oglesby <0003740491@mcimail.com>
To: VCERF <vcerf@NRI.Reston.VA.US>
Cc: "Stephen J. Coya" <0001020038@mcimail.com>
Subject: Re: MCI EDI 400
Message-Id: <20901220162102/0003740491PJ3EM@mcimail.com>
Vint,
Here are the press releases on MCI EDI 400. They may be useful to the person at
HP.
Gary
++++++++++++
Subject: MCI ANNOUNCES MCI EDI 400 SERVICE
AND SUPPLY TECH, INC. RELATIONSHIP
The announcement below is being released today, December 3, in
conjunction with our participation at the EDIA 22nd Annual National
Conference being held in Washington, D.C. The EDIA Conference is
the 2nd largest annual EDI conference/trade show in the United States.
MCI will be exhibiting and conducting demonstrations with Digital Equipment
Corporation (provider of DEC/EDI software) and Supply Tech, Inc., our newest
business partner. Together with our partners, we offer total software/
service solutions designed to meet customers' EDI requirements.
A copy of the announcement -- as well as of the Q&A which follows --
will be included in Susie Stulz's next hardcopy mailing. Please contact
me via MCI Mail with any questions, and stay tuned for further details!
Susie Houck
EDI Marketing Manager
- - - ------------------------------
MCI ANNOUNCES MCI EDI 400 SERVICE
AND SUPPLY TECH, INC. RELATIONSHIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jane Levene
(914) 934-6480
Rye Brook, NY, December 3, 1990 -- MCI Communications
Corporation today announced MCI EDI 400, an electronic
data interchange (EDI) service for its MCI Mail value-added
service. MCI EDI 400 enables global document exchange for
both X.400 and non-X.400 trading partners. MCI also
announced an agreement in principle with Supply Tech, Inc.,
an industry-leading EDI software provider. Under this
agreement, Supply Tech will enhance its STX12 PC-based
software for integration with MCI Mail.
MCI EDI 400 supports all EDI standards, allows users to send
and receive both EDI and interpersonal messages using a
single account, and provides simplified "sender pays"
billing. Users also have access to all the delivery options
of MCI Mail including e-mail, facsimile, telex, postal and
courier delivery. Through partnerships with Supply Tech as
well as other industry-leading software and hardware
providers, MCI is able to provide communications solutions
to meet the full range of EDI messaging requirements.
The MCI-Supply Tech relationship will offer a turnkey EDI
solution to those non-X.400 trading partners seeking X.400
communications and EDI standards compatibility. The product
will interface to MCI Mail and support X.400 addressing,
enabling document exchange with X.400 business partners via
MCI EDI 400. Users will also have access to the MCI Mail
subscriber base, which includes all of MCI's interconnected
public and private systems, as well as the full range of MCI
Mail delivery services. The product will be commercially
available in early 1991 and will be marketed by both Supply
Tech and MCI.
-- MORE --
-2-
"Our co-marketing relationship with Supply Tech will
complement our existing offerings and provide strategic
communications solutions," said Seth Blumenfeld, President
of MCI International, a subsidiary of MCI Communications
Corporation. "This will allow MCI EDI customers to
establish a virtual EDI trading partner network without
concern for the technologies implemented." Consistent with
this strategy, last spring MCI announced certification of
Digital Equipment Corporation's DEC/EDI software for use
with MCI Mail's X.400 service. MCI also offers customers
assistance in facilitating trading partner networks.
EDI is the electronic exchange of structured business
documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and bills of
lading that provides a more efficient alternative to paper
form processing. X.400 is the internationally agreed-upon
protocol for electronic mail exchange which allows
communication between dissimilar messaging systems. In
addition to its current X.400 service, which supports both
EDI and IPM transport, MCI has also committed to the
development of an X.400 Message Handling System which
meets the full requirements of the latest internationally
agreed upon X.400/X.500 CCITT standards.
Supply Tech, Inc. was founded in 1984 by industry-based
computer professionals and has built an outstanding
reputation in the EDI industry. The company, located in
Ann Arbor, Michigan, provides a complete range of
services and specializes in the development of EDI, bar code
label generation, and data collection software products.
Supply Tech actively participates in EDI standards groups
and is recognized as an industry leader.
MCI offers a full range of domestic and international
communications services. International services include
worldwide direct dialing, telex, facsimile, electronic mail,
private voice and data networks and television
transmission. MCI's offices in 50 countries worldwide are
positioned to provide and support the full range of global
telecommunications services.
####
**************************************************************************
Q&A BACKGROUNDER: MCI ANNOUNCES MCI EDI 400 SERVICE
AND SUPPLY TECH, INC. RELATIONSHIP
******** COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL ********
1. What did MCI announce?
The press release MCI issued today includes two announcements:
(1) MCI's "MCI EDI 400" service and (2) the agreement between
MCII and Supply Tech, Inc. (STI) to enter a co-marketing
relationship.
2. What is "MCI EDI 400"?
MCI EDI 400 is MCI's name for its X.400-based EDI service. MCI's
vision -- and that of the marketplace being monitored -- is that
EDI is but one of the objects being transported via X.400. MCI
EDI 400 provides a common transport platform for both EDI and IPM,
offering customers the ability to maximize their investment in X.400.
Additional features of the service include:
o EDI standards support: Transport of all public EDI formats such
such as ANSI X12, TDCC, UCS, WINS and EDIFACT as well as all
proprietary formats.
o Global document exchange: Worldwide transport for EDI and IPM
via MCI's X.400 and proprietary interconnections.
o Simplified billing: "Sender pays" policy employed for ease in
tracking costs.
o MCI Mail delivery and service options support: User access to the
full range of e-mail, facsimile, telex, postal and courier delivery
services.
o Partnerships with industry experts: Co-marketing partnerships
with hardware and software leaders to bring total solutions to
the marketplace. MCI provides communications and messaging
expertise; our partners provide hardware, software and EDI
expertise.
o Integration of EDI and IPM: Single gateway account support for
exchange of both message types. X.400 addressing provides
the enveloping for the messages.
3. When will MCI EDI 400 be available?
MCI EDI 400 is available today.
4. Who is Supply Tech, Inc.?
Supply Tech is an industry-leading EDI software development company
which currently has an installed base of about 3,500. Known for their
popular STX12 software, STI also offers a complete range of services
and specializes in the development of EDI, bar code label
generation and data collection softwra products. Supply Tech
actively participates in EDI standards groups and is recognized as
an industry leader. STI is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
5. Why is the MCII/STI relationship significant?
Supply Tech is an industry-leading EDI software company. STX12
is Supply Tech's (STI) popular IBM PC-based EDI software. The
combination of MCI's communications service and STI software
enable the customer to use one common transport system (MCI Mail)
for both EDI and electronic mail, reducing communications costs and
maximizing efficiency and resources. In addition, this solution:
o Represents the first turnkey EDI solution available to the MCI
Mail non-X.400 subscriber base.
o STI's STX12 software will be the first EDI software certified for
use with MCI Mail which utilizes the MEP2 protocol.
o Supports MCI's strategy of integrated messaging -- the
use of a single gateway for both interpersonal messaging and EDI
for global communications.
o Will enable EDI document exchange between large and small trading
partners, and specifically, between EDI systems communicating
via X.400 and the non-X.400 MCI Mail subscriber base.
o Facilitates the establishment of trading partner networks without
regard to technical issues.
6. Explain specifically what MCI and Supply Tech will each offer.
The MCII-Supply Tech co-marketing relationship will bring an
IBM PC-based turnkey EDI solution to those non-X.400 trading
partners seeking X.400 communications and EDI standards compatibility.
MCI will offer transport for users of Supply Tech's STX12 EDI software.
That is, STI's STX12 software customers may select MCI as their
communications provider. STX12 users will have full access to the
EDI functions and capabilities of the STX12 software, but in
addition, the software will also be integrated with MCI Mail.
STX12 users will have the ability to create and exchange
both EDI and interpersonal messages for delivery via MCI Mail.
A single MCI Mail account will support the exchange of both EDI
and IPM message types.
STX12 users may address messages for e-mail, facsimile, telex,
postal and courier delivery. Via MCI EDI 400, STX12 users
will have the capability to communicate with both X.400 systems
and non-X.400 business partners.
STI will offer its PC-based EDI software and all support and
maintenance for the product. The software may be used on a
standalone PC or on a PC front-ended to a mainframe.
Both MCI and STI will market the product.
7. When will this product be available?
The product is targeted for early '91 commercial availability.
8. Will MCI sell the STX12 software?
Yes. MCI will manage license execution between the customer and STI.
Details will follow.
9. How is this solution priced?
MCI prices EDI and IPM the same: standard message rates apply
and volume discounts are available.
Pricing of the STX12 software will be available at a later date.
10. Are any other VANS which interconnect with the STX12 product?
STX12 currently supports interconnection to most other VANS
via customer purchase of a "log-on". Multiple log-ons can be
supported. Among the VANS to which STX12 will interconnect are
AT&T, GEIS, Dialcom, IBM and INFONET. Only the MCI Mail log-on
will support integration with MCI Mail service and delivery
delivery options.
12. What other EDI solutions does MCI offer?
Last spring, MCI announced certification of Digital Equipment
Corporation's DEC/EDI software for use with XChange 400. This
solution enables users of DEC's software to select MCI as their
X.400 ADMD for both IPM and EDI. This solution represents the
first commercially-available turnkey EDI solution for MCI customers
resulting from MCI's partnerships with industry leaders.
MCI has long offered proprietary EDI solutions via its MCI Mail
Scripts product, Automated Money Transfer Service (AMTS) and the Link
Family of Products.
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