Tech Bytes: Member Forum Set On Internet Standard

OBI Consortium, an initiative for Internet business procurement spearheaded by American Express Co., has scheduled its first quarterly member forum Sept. 22-24 in Boston.

The group's activities revolve around acceptance of the proposed Open Buying on the Internet-OBI-standard.

The consortium said it has attracted a cross-section of Fortune 500 companies.

Prospective buyers include BASF, Ford Motor Co., and National Semiconductor. Selling organizations include Boise Cascade, Office Depot, and W.W. Grainger. Technology and financial participants include American Express, Open Market, Microsoft, and Oracle.

All those companies are represented on the OBI board of directors.

An OBI business-to-business pilot, developed by Intelisys Electronic Commerce for the Motorola Space and Technology Group and Office Depot, is to be ready for the meeting. For information, see the Web site www.supplyworks.com/obi.

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