AIAG Publishes ANX(R) Release 1 Document For ISPs
20 May 1998
AIAG Publishes ANX(R) Release 1 Document For ISPs; Defines Certification Process & Requirements for ANX(R) Service
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 20 -- The Automotive Industry Action
Group (AIAG) today announced that its ANX(R) Release 1 Document -- which
defines the certification process and requirements for Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) wishing to participate in the offering of Automotive Network
eXchange(R) (ANX(R)) Service -- is complete and available for purchase.
The document, which supersedes the ANX Release 1 Draft Document
published in June 1997, defines the minimum requirements for the certification
of ISPs to provide the ANX Service as ANX Certified Service Providers (CSPs).
It spells out the ANX Certification process (being handled by the ANX
Overseer, Bellcore, the communications software engineering and consulting
company headquartered in Morristown, N.J.) that covers ANX service quality
requirements categorized into eight areas: (1) network service features,
(2) interoperability, (3) performance, (4) reliability, (5) disaster recovery,
(6) security, (7) customer care, and (8) trouble handling.
The ANX Release 1 Document -- shaped by input from various industry
sources, including select ISPs and automotive trading partner participants in
the recently completed six-month ANX Pilot Project -- also details the process
for an automotive trading partner to work with the ANX Overseer to subscribe
to the ANX Network, as well as the requirements for certification of ANX
Certificate Authority service providers for Virtual Private Network security.
"The release of this document opens up the certification process
for Internet Service Providers and paves the way for the much-anticipated
launch of the ANX Service later this summer," said Richard T. Simmons, AIAG
executive director. "With the start of ANX ISP certification by Bellcore and
today's announcement of successful ANX IPSec (IETF IP Security)
interoperability testing by the International Computer Security Association
(ICSA, Carlisle, Pa.), we look forward to the ANX Service becoming available
to automotive trading partners to support their business critical
applications."
The ANX Service is a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol) network service allowing for efficient and secure electronic
communication among automotive trading partner subscribers and delivered by
interconnected certified Internet Service Providers and certified network
Exchange Points.
ISPs, end-users and interested third parties can order the ANX
Release 1 Document by calling AIAG Customer Service at 248-358-3003. The
price is $1,545 for AIAG members and $3,090 for non-members. For those
companies which had previously purchased the ANX Release 1 Draft Document, the
cost for the final Release 1 version is $50 for AIAG members and $100 for
non-members.
Beyond the ANX Release 1 Document, AIAG is also offering two-day courses
-- at basic and advanced levels -- to help automotive trading partners and
system integrators in understanding and using the ANX Service. For
information on the ANX 101 and 201 courses, interested parties should contact
AIAG's training department at 248-799-4228. Further information regarding the
ANX Release 1 document and the ANX Network Service can be found at
(http://www.anxo.com).
ISP Certification Process Opens
Beginning Thursday, May 21, ISPs may apply for certification of their
network environment to meet the business quality internet service specified by
ANX Release 1. To apply for ANX Certification, ISPs must enter into a
contract with Bellcore, the ANX Overseer. An ISP can request an ANXO Service
Provisioning Package by sending a fax with the main contact name on the ISP
organization's letterhead to 732-758-2422. Further information concerning the
ANXO Service Provisioning Package, and the process for ANX Certification, is
summarized on the ANXO web site at http://www.anxo.com.
"Bellcore is delighted that we have reached this milestone of starting the
ANX Certification services," said Bryan Whittle, general manager of the ANX
Overseer business at Bellcore. "Automotive trading partners will be able to
take advantage of the lower cost structure and faster cycle times that
motivate the ANX Service."
Setting new standards for business communications over Internet Protocol
networking, the ANX Service is designed to use Internet Protocol technology to
enable automotive trading partners to communicate through a single, reliable,
robust and secure access point. The ANX Service is expected to save the auto
industry millions of dollars annually by improving communications, simplifying
data network connections and providing a foundation for future business
network and application growth.
Founded in 1982, AIAG is a not-for-profit trade association of more than
1,300 North American auto and truck manufacturers and their suppliers.
Originally recognized for its efforts to standardize electronic data
interchange (EDI) and bar code standards to assist Tier One suppliers,
AIAG's mission has expanded to cover all levels of the OEM supply chain, as
well as to include numerous programs and initiatives aimed at improving its
members' productivity and quality. More information about AIAG and the annual
AUTO-TECH Conference & Exposition can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.aiag.org.