SAP joins HP, IBM and MS in UDDI B2B registry

NEWS SAP has pledged its support for a set of protocols, which will allow its customers to integrate themselves with existing B2B exchanges more effectively. The company will join Microsoft, HP and IBM in maintaining a webServices online B2B directory set of protocols. webServices is a group of protocols which bypasses complex integration processes by wrapping around applications running on the net, so disguising it. SAP becomes the latest Universal Description Discovery and Integration UDDI B2B registry host working on the webServices directory. Universal Description Discovery and Integration is a central protocol within webServices and operates as the 'yellow pages' for the internet in which companies can list themselves in detail and say how they prefer to be contacted. James Governor, analyst at Illuminata said: "From SAP's point of view UDDI makes a huge amount of sense. Effectively SAP is creating a backbone of thousands of businesses with webServices, using its installed customer base." Governor said SAP's background is strong in supply chains between companies and "it's exactly in the supply chain where UDDI is likely to take off and have relevance". He added: "Manufacturers are looking at cutting costs and many have already got SAP on board. SAP has opened up a lot lately so offering customers an additional bit of integration opens the company even more and this is why its sales are improving." The UDDI directory was launched in May 2001 when Microsoft, IBM and HP began hosting private networks for customers. However, the protocol still has not been submitted to a standards body for ratification. Governor added: "SAP is ahead of all the other application vendors. I haven't seen PeopleSoft or Siebel shouting UDDI from the rooftops. SAP are saying to the smaller businesses 'keep our architecture and infrastructure and we will do this exposing of interfaces for you', not, 'spend £10,000 on more stuff'."