REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 14, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Microsoft® BizTalk™
Jumpstart Toolkit Version 2. The toolkit, which enables developers to quickly and easily integrate business processes within and between companies, is available for free* download at http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/ . The new toolkit is compatible with the upcoming BizTalk Server 2000, which allows applications developed with this version to be migrated easily to the BizTalk Server. In addition, this latest version includes many new features and enhancements, such as test debug and schema validation tools, as well as compatibility with the BizTalk Framework 1.0 specification.
This version of the toolkit also provides developers with the necessary set of tools to build new applications that interoperate with other enterprise applications by routing XML-based business documents, furthering Microsoft’s commitment to providing a complete platform for application integration based on industry standards. These documents can be routed using the Jumpstart Kit routing engine and then easily migrated to and managed by Microsoft’s BizTalk Server 2000, slated to preview in early spring.
“Microsoft is committed to promoting the use of XML standards as the foundation for providing heterogeneous business process integration within and between organizations,”
said Chris Olson, group product manager in Microsoft’s Developer Division.
“This second generation version of the toolkit, with full support for the BizTalk Framework, shows our commitment to developing quality products that facilitate this type of business-to-business integration based on industry standards.”
Microsoft expects that customers will receive BizTalk Jumpstart Toolkit Version 2 enthusiastically, based on the response from early adopters.
“We found that the Microsoft BizTalk Framework and the Microsoft BizTalk Jumpstart Toolkit made it easy for us to develop a product that could integrate the business processes contained within the legacy systems of our customers,”
said Robert McKimmey, chief technology officer at Business Engine Software Corp.
“We also needed a way to enable interoperability across a variety of operating systems and platforms, and Microsoft’s end-to-end support for XML gave us the capabilities we needed to accomplish this most challenging task.”
About BizTalk
The BizTalk initiative represents the collective set of investments that Microsoft is making to facilitate business process integration within and between organizations using Internet-standard protocols and formats. It includes the BizTalk Framework, various cross-industry investments including the BizTalk.org business document library, as well as products and tools for developing, executing and managing distributed business processes. These investments are being made in conjunction with industry standards groups, technology and service providers, as well as key global organizations.
Introduced in March 1999, the BizTalk Framework makes it easy for businesses to exchange information between software applications and conduct business over the Internet with trading partners and customers. The BizTalk Framework includes an open design framework for implementing an XML schema and a set of XML tags used in messages sent between applications. Microsoft, other software companies and industry-standards bodies will use the BizTalk Framework to produce XML schemas in a consistent manner to enable integration across industries and between business systems, independent of operating system, programming model or programming language.
The BizTalk steering committee, composed of industry-leading vendors, standards bodies and corporate customers, provides guidance on the future direction of the BizTalk Framework and includes American Petroleum Institute, Ariba Inc., The Baan Co., The Boeing Co., Clarus Corp., Commerce One Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., Concur Technologies Inc., Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA), Dell Computer Corp., EXE Technologies Inc., Extensibility Inc., Extricity Software Inc., Ford Motor Co., GE Information Services (GEIS), Harbinger Corp., i2 Technologies Inc., Intelisys Electronic Commerce Inc., J.D. Edwards & Co., Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., Microsoft Corp., New Era of Networks (NEON), Open Applications Group (OAG), PeopleSoft Inc., Pivotal Software Inc., Reuters, RosettaNet and SAP AG, Siebel Systems Inc., Sterling Commerce Inc., United Parcel Service, U.S. Department of Defense, and webMethods Inc. More information about the Microsoft BizTalk Framework is available at http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/ .
BizTalk.Org is a public online community (http://www.biztalk.org/) that allows organizations to learn about XML, access training materials, and collaborate through newsgroups and public forums. In addition, BizTalk.Org houses a public library to store BizTalk XML schemas. The library will allow individuals and organizations to search and find schemas that interest them, as well as to register as users of those schemas so they may be automatically notified of updates. Organizations can also upload their own schemas for use across a set of partners or a trading community, or to promote a given XML grammar as a tool for solving a specific business challenge. BizTalk.Org allows organizations to collaborate with many partners, enabling multiple choices for products, tools, services and portals that use BizTalk technology. To date, there are over 250 schemas housed on the BizTalk.Org Web site.
BizTalk-compatible products include the BizTalk Server, a business process integration server that runs on the Microsoft Windows® 2000 operating system. BizTalk Server provides a reliable environment for taking data from applications, transforming it, and providing it to other applications to facilitate trading partner integration, electronic procurement, business-to-business portals and extranets, and the automation of value chain processes.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* Connect-time charges may apply.
Microsoft, BizTalk and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
