Drummond Group and STAR Collaborate on Development of Cost-Effective IT Network for Auto Industry

ebMS and Web Services Simplify Common Data Exchange for Automotive Dealerships, OEMs and RSPs

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 17 -- Drummond Group Inc. (DGI), the world's leading software testing and research company, today announced it will serve as a vendor-neutral, third-party consultant to STAR (Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail), the IT standards body for the North American retail automotive industry. STAR's efforts are focused on providing assistance to automotive dealers, manufacturers and Retail Systems Providers (RSPs) as they seek to establish a common data exchange with one another. With its extensive experience, DGI will help STAR facilitate an open, common dealer IT infrastructure based on the ebXML Messaging (ebMS) standard and Web services.

DGI collaborated with STAR on its forthcoming "Transport Guidelines," a technology reference document designed to assist dealers, OEMs and their technology partners in the development of cost-effective IT network solutions, and to simplify current data messaging techniques through the use of ebMS and Web Services. The two solutions provide secure and reliable messaging for B2B communications. STAR ebXML Messaging Transport is based on OASIS ebXML Web services standards and STAR Web Services Transport is based on a collection of newer "WS*" standards and specifications promoted by the WS-I, OASIS and major industry groups. When implemented, ebMS and Web Services will enable users to connect, deliver and reply to data securely and reliably, saving money, and adding flexibility and control as business data is utilized and reported.

"STAR's goal is to provide a common solution supporting the exchange of data between automotive dealers and manufacturers that will contribute to improved operational efficiencies for their customers and business partners," said Dick Malaise, STAR Co-Chair. "DGI lends its extensive expertise to this ebXML Messaging and Web services initiative, as STAR builds a foundation for dealers, manufacturers and RSPs to move toward an open Internet infrastructure."

"Our experience in ebXML interoperability testing accelerates adoption of the standard and the development of initiatives designed to simplify data exchanges for numerous vertical industries," said Rik Drummond, DGI's chief executive officer and chief scientist. "We commend STAR for its continued support of ebXML Messaging and Web services communications. In effect, STAR will be well-positioned to help automotive dealers streamline communications, prepare their IT infrastructure for the next leading-edge dealer-to-OEM communication systems and deliver increased levels of customer satisfaction."

As a complementary manual to the Dealership Infrastructure Guidelines, STAR's new "Transport Guidelines," is scheduled for a later release. The Dealership Infrastructure Guidelines may be downloaded free at: www.starstandard.org .

About STAR

The Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) organization is the Information Technology (IT) standards organization for the retail automotive industry. The goal of the STAR organization is to use IT standards as a catalyst in fulfilling the business information needs of dealers and manufacturers while reducing the time and effort previously required to support this activity. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, STAR is a not-for- profit volunteer organization and its members include Dealers, Manufacturers and Retail System Providers (RSPs). As members, they are interested in developing, promoting, and administering voluntary IT standards in the retail automotive industry and improving the effectiveness, timeliness and competitiveness of the IT solutions needed within the retail automotive industry.

About Drummond Group Inc.

Drummond Group Inc. (DGI) works with software vendors, vertical industries and the standards community to drive adoption for standards by conducting interoperability and conformance testing, publishing related strategic research and developing vertical industry strategies. Founded in 1999, DGI represents best-of-breed in the industry on linking horizontal infrastructure technologies, standards and interoperability issues with the needs of vertical industries such as retail, grocery, health care, transportation, government and automotive. For more information, please visit www.drummondgroup.com or email: info@drummondgroup.com .