Premenos and Cisco Systems partner to conduct business on the Internet; "live" pilot proves secure business-to-business transactions over open networks

Business Wire, Nov 7, 1994

CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 1994--Premenos Corp., a leading in providing electronic data interchange (EDI) software solutions for electronic business applications, Monday announced a pilot program with Cisco System, who provides the majority of the routers on the Internet today.

The pilot is running live over the Internet -- today -- and will be fully implemented early next year. The program provides a true model for secure, electronic business transactions over open networks and demonstrates comprehensive support for EDI, including the tasks of integration, translation, communications, and document management.

Premenos' recently announced partnership with RSA Data Securities makes Premenos the only EDI software provider to have licensed RSA technologies as part of an end-to-end business solution that solves the challenges of authentication, non-repudiation and confidentiality.

This strategic move gives Premenos the lead in the new Internet-based electronic commerce market where authentication of materials sent and received and security of transactions are the critical gating items for market success.

"We chose to incorporate the Premenos model of secure, end-to-end EDI as part of a strategic solution to enhance our relationships with our business partners," said Carl Redfield, vice president of manufacturing at Cisco Systems. "The Premenos solution is orders of magnitude faster and significantly more cost-effective than the traditional value-added network (VAN) application model, allowing us to be more competitive in our overall business practice," Redfield concluded.

"Our relationship with Cisco and their partners is significant in the EDI industry because it demonstrates a new model for EDI -- one that is accessible to more users, and provides more flexibility for building future business applications," commented Lew Jenkins, chairman and founder of Premenos. "The Internet -- or other open networks from public or private providers -- establishes the right architecture for peer-to-peer electronic commerce among any size company."

Cisco Systems Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., is the leading supplier of internetworking products, including routers, bridges, workgroup systems, ATM switches, dial-up access servers, software routers, and router management software. These product are used to build enterprise-wide internetworks linking an unlimited number of geographically dispersed LANs, WANs and IBM SNA networks.

Cisco's Internetwork Operating Systems (IOS) technology, found in more than 250,000 installed Cisco units and in the products of over 20 partners, is the de facto standard for data transmission. In the U.S., Cisco is traded over the counter under NASDAQ symbol CSCO. A member of the S&P 500 and Fortune 500, Cisco in fiscal 1994 logged sales of $1.2 billion.

For additional information, contact Gina Espejo in public relations at Cisco Systems, 408/526-8780.

Premenos Corp.

Premenos is setting the agenda for true electronic commerce and EDI through open networks, such as the Internet. Premenos EDI software is an enabling strategy for transforming how corporations conduct business in extended enterprises using electronic communications for commerce. Lew Jenkins, chairman and founder of Premenos, is widely regarded as an EDI industry visionary.

Premenos has become a leader in EDI and Electronic Commerce solutions, with support for IBM AS/400, RISC System/6000, HP/9000, and Sun Solaris platforms. Key customers include Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Price/Costco, Blockbuster Video, Ciba-Geigy, and Cartier, among thousands of others in a variety of industries.

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Note to Editors: Premenos is a registered trademark of Premenos Corp. All other product and company names are trademarks of their respective corporations.

CONTACT: Premenos

             Elizabeth Hudson, 510/602-2000
             elizabethh@premenos.com
             Blanc & Otus
             Kelly Ryan, 415/512-0500
                         kelly@bando.com
             Anne Desautels, 415/512-0500
                             anne@bando.com