UDDI business directory widens reach

Universal Description, Discovery, Integration - the foundation of an online directory to facilitate business-to-business electronic commerce - opened up to more international and complex businesses on Monday with the announcement of Version 2 of the UDDI specification.

UDDI 2 supports description of complex corporate organizational structures, allows additional categorization of business activities and supports multiple languages. UDDI 2 also has improved search functionality, according to a UDDI Project statement.

UDDI, a brainchild of IBM, Microsoft and Ariba, aims to smooth electronic business by making it easier for businesses to provide information about their products and services on the Web as well as locate partners and customers.

The UDDI initiative was started in September 2000; the registry was officially launched in early May. Companies can register their information in the UDDI at no charge.

The UDDI Community is gathering this week in Atlanta to discuss the requirements of Version 3.

The UDDI Project is at www.uddi.org

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.