StrikeIron Partners with Grand Central Communications to Simplify the Discovery and Integration of Quality Web Services

Business Wire, Feb 8, 2005

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Partnership Simplifies Web Services Integration for Improved Productivity

StrikeIron(TM) Inc., developer of the innovative StrikeIron Web Services Business Network(TM) (WSBizNet(TM)) that simplifies working with Web services, today announced that it has partnered with Grand Central Communications Inc., the leading provider of Integration On Demand(SM) solutions, to make its network of high quality Web services and tools available through Grand Central's Business Services Network. The partnership allows Grand Central's community of customers, partners and developers to build on demand solutions using integrated data services from StrikeIron.

"Grand Central is building the world's largest directory of business-class Web services. Our partnership with StrikeIron enables us to provide their rich set of subscription-based Web services to enterprise customers through our Business Services Network, while reducing the complexity and risk of integrating them together," said Halsey Minor, founder and chief executive officer of Grand Central Communications.

The partnership allows StrikeIron and Grand Central to simplify the rapid and scalable implementation of integration and data. Business users can quickly find and access over 1,000 Web services, including over 35 subscription-based Premium Web services that can be built into solutions for eCommerce, Identity Verification, Web Development, Call Centers, Direct Marketing, Financial Services and Company research. These Premium Web services are available on a real-time, on-demand basis with a "pay-per-use" subscription, providing customers with a lower cost and lower risk option.

Grand Central's Integration On Demand solution enables enterprises to interoperate with their diverse business units, partners, vendors and customers within days instead of months, and its Business Services Network is accessible via an easy-to-use, self-service, Web-based interface.

"By providing Grand Central with access to our Premium Web services, we solve the technical challenge that many companies face of managing multiple point-to-point relationships," said Bob Brauer, president and co-founder of StrikeIron. "Enterprises can now take advantage of StrikeIron's new class of subscription-based online services and tools for enabling the utilization of Web services through Grand Central's Business Services Network."

About StrikeIron

Based in Research Triangle Park, NC, StrikeIron, Inc. is pioneering a break-through with the StrikeIron Web Services Business Network(TM) (WSBizNet(TM)) that greatly simplifies working with Web Services and enables broader adoption by business users and developers. WSBizNet is an innovative integrated set of on-demand services and easier-to-use graphical tools to simplify publishing, finding, understanding, and utilizing Web services for easier and faster development of on-demand applications. The Aurora Funds, Inc. provided funding for StrikeIron after recognizing the significant opportunity presented by Web services and this unique management team. For more information, visit www.strikeiron.com.

About Grand Central Communications

Grand Central Communications provides Integration On Demand(SM) solutions through its award-winning, subscription-based Business Services Network. Together with our community of on demand service provider and system integrator partners, we enable enterprises to easily integrate and share applications, data, and processes throughout the extended enterprise, without installing, maintaining, or supporting costly hardware or software. By offering integration as an on demand service, Grand Central and its partners dramatically increase the success and eliminate the risk of business integration, providing a better alternative to complicated, lengthy, and expensive traditional software deployments.

Grand Central's market-changing approach has received significant recognition in the industry, including InfoWorld's Technology of the Year Award for "Best Web Services Integration Solution" for 2004 and 2005, and being named as a finalist in PC Magazine's 21st Annual Awards for Technical Excellence in the category of Enterprise Software.

The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Call 1-800-845-4313 or visit www.grandcentral.com for more information.

StrikeIron is a trademark of StrikeIron, Inc. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.