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Novell Joins Board of Electronic Commerce Modeling Language (ECML) to Support Digital Wallet Initiative PROVO, Utah — Sept. 8, 1999 — A top executive from Novell, Inc. has joined an alliance of major computer and Internet companies that are working to make it easier for consumers and businesses to pay for goods and services over the World Wide Web. Mike Sheridan, vice president of strategic business for Novell, has joined other top executives from America Online, Microsoft, American Express, IBM, Compaq, MasterCard, Sun Microsystems, Trintech, Visa, CyberCash, SETCo, FSTC, Discover and Brodia on the Electronic Commerce Modeling Language (ECML) board of directors. Through their collective efforts, the companies involved in ECML hope to encourage consumers to buy online by making the entire buying process easier, faster and more efficient, by further supporting the concept of "digital wallets." The standard will also help online merchants, who need a standard way to manage the $250 billion worth of goods and services consumers are expected to buy over the Internet next year, and a way to manage the burgeoning business-to-business market, expected to jump from $43 billion in revenues to $1.3 trillion by 2003. "Consumers are looking for easier, faster ways to buy off the Web. The goal of the 'digital wallet' initiative is to reduce the purchase hassle, which currently involves filling out many forms," Sheridan said. "Novell brings its experience in directory technology, which helps identify and manage people and resources throughout a network." "E-wallets" provide online purchasers with a standard way in which to buy goods over the Internet. These consumers enter their personal and credit card information only once, and that one data entry allows them to shop all over the Internet without entering the information every time they visit a new site. The industry leaders involved in this effort have worked together to develop a universal format for digital wallets and merchant Web sites: Electronic Commerce Modeling Language (ECML). ECML uses a set of uniform field names that streamlines collection of data for shipping, billing and payment. Today, most merchants conduct business on the Internet using a variety of non-standard, HTML-based forms. The diversity hurts e-commerce because consumers find the deluge of different forms confusing, and the process of filling out so many forms tiresome. They have to enter their name, address, phone number, buying preferences, e-mail, gender, credit card number, expiration date, and on and on and on — at each Web site. As a result, instead of following through to the end of the purchase, the consumer will often throw up his hands and abandon the site altogether. That's the worst possible outcome for e-commerce. But digital wallets, using the ECML standard, will allow consumers to store billing, shipping, and payment information and to use this information to automatically complete a merchant form. About ECML ECML is publicly available today and can be easily implemented by online merchants and technology vendors. An added benefit of the new format is that it can be used with existing data privacy and security approaches, including both SSL and SET protocols. The ECML format is the first in a series of e-commerce initiatives to be launched by the industry alliance. For more information, contact http://www.ecml.org/. About Novell Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) is the world's leading provider of directory-enabled networking software. Novell solutions give businesses total control of their private networks and the Internet, simplifying the management of user access and identity. Novell's worldwide channel, consulting, developer, education and technical support programs are the most extensive in the network computing industry. For information on Novell's complete range of products and services, contact Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272), or visit Novell's Web site at http://www.novell.com. Press may access Novell announcements and company information on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com/pressroom. In addition, detailed comparisons between Novell products and competitive offerings from other vendors are available on the Web at http://www.novell.com/advantage. For information on the Year 2000 status of Novell products, please access Novell's Year 2000 Web site at http://www.novell.com/year2000 or contact Novell's Customer Response Center at year2000@novell.com. Novell is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Press Contacts:
Norman Birnbach
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