For Release: January 31, 2005

VersaLex Earns eBusinessReady Certification for AS3 EDI/XML Interoperability

Cleo among first to offer certified AS3 to its customers

Rockford, IL— Cleo® Communications, a leading provider of data communications products and services since the mid 1980’s, announced today that VersaLex™ v2.3 achieved eBusinessReady™ certification for AS3 EDI/XML interoperability. VersaLex is Cleo’s secure Internet communications technology that powers Cleo’s popular client-based software, LexiCom™, as well as Cleo’s server solutions, VersaLex Trader (VLTrader™) and VersaLex Exchange (VLExchange™).

The first AS3 certification to be conducted by the eBusinessReady program, Cleo was among 11 companies to participate. VersaLex underwent several rounds of rigorous testing to verify certificate and data exchange, security, compression, and receipt capabilities. In addition, VersaLex successfully completed cross testing against all other participants’ products. The methodology of cross testing ensures interoperability among all products in the test round.

AS3, or Applicability Statement 3, is a draft specification by which applications communicate EDI data, or other information such as XML documents, securely over the Internet using the FTP/S protocol. AS3 (like AS2) is an open standards protocol promoting interoperability. AS3 is not an extension or the next level of AS2, but a separate standard. Where AS2 is built on HTTP/S, AS3 leverages FTP/S.

“AS3 may be particularly well suited for FTP-centric businesses that have a significant investment in FTP scripting, applications, or security,” notes Todd Enneking, Vice President of Engineering for Cleo Communications. “AS3 offers both ‘push’ and ‘pull’ FTP capabilities, which may widen its adoption rate compared to AS2, which is a push-only protocol. This ‘push/pull’ set up is similar to the asynchronous and bisynchronous environments and can be achieved with the Integrated FTP Server in Cleo’s VLTrader and VLExchange.”

“Cleo is very pleased to be a part of the first official test round for AS3” added Enneking. “The certification solidifies our ongoing commitment to delivering current, modern communication products that allow our customers to leverage advancements in security and efficiency.”

The eBusinessReady program provides neutral third party testing of solutions for interoperability and compliance. eBusinessReady is a joint partnership of the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC) and Drummond Group, Inc. (DGI).

About VersaLex
VersaLex is an Internet communications technology that delivers eBusinessReady certified, secure AS2, AS3, and ebXML, as well as FTP, FTP/S, HTTP, and HTTP/S connections. The flexible all Java™ technology runs on industry-standard PCs and servers and supports a wide variety of operating system configurations. Proven in use at over 5,000 companies, trading partners worldwide rely on VersaLex regardless of their level of expertise, size, or relationship as a client or host.

VersaLex powers Cleo LexiCom, a client solution for communication with major trading networks; VLTrader, a server-level solution for the implementation and management of communications both up and down the supply chain; and VLExchange, an ebusiness community management platform that integrates business processes and communications internally and among trading communities. More details on each product can be found at www.cleo.com.

About Cleo Communications
Cleo Communications provides integrated, reliable, communication centric e-business products and services for mission-critical applications. Cleo products and services derive from a solid foundation in reliable, secure data transfer products that enable users to establish and manage communications sessions automatically, and integrate communications with e-business applications. Over 100,000 installations in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial, automotive, and other markets rely on Cleo products.


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