------------------------------ WarpCast ------------------------------
Source: Timothy Sipples (tsipple@us.ibm.com)
Moderator: Trevor Smith (editor@os2ezine.com)
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OS/2 Warp and Lotus Domino technologies continue to make strides in
China.  Here's the latest news...

PRESS RELEASE: OS/2, Lotus Notes become OA standard of China's
                Ministry of Electronic Industry

Ministry of Electronic Industry, IBM and Great Wall Computer Software
& Systems Inc.  Launch Office Automation System

BEIJING, China, 6th November, 1997 -- The Ministry of Electronic
Industry (MEI) and IBM have announced that, together with Great Wall
Software & Systems Inc., they have successfully developed and
implemented an IBM OS/2 and Lotus Notes based office automation (OA)
system for the Ministry.  To facilitate software developers and users
in China to use IBM's advanced technology, MEI has formed two
committees to develop the national Chinese Application Program
Interface (API) standards for the Notes and OS/2 software platforms.

The move is part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which MEI
signed with IBM in 1995 to co-operate in software.  Using IBM and
Lotus software products to develop OA applications is one of the
major items of the MOU.  The OA system is the result of the joint
efforts of the MEI, IBM and the Great Wall company.

The integrated system includes modules for public information,
backgrounder, personnel files, e-mail, document registry, document
approval and meeting management.  It uses IBM's DB2 Universal
Database for database management, and IBM RS/6000 as the central
server.  More than 38 trade information/statistics and discussion
databases are available in the system now, and more are being added.
The OA system is connected to the Golden Bridge network and its data
is made available to the local industry through this network.

The deployment of the system is expected to substantially improve
workflow and process in MEI's offices.  Starting now and working
through 1998, MEI will roll out the system in more than 100 MEI
organizations and affiliates across the country.

This system will serve as the OA model for other government
ministries.  In addition, Great Wall is joining hands with IBM and
Lotus to market an OA package developed out of the MEI OA system to
other companies in China.

At the same time, MEI has set up a Lotus Notes Working Group and an
OS/2 Working Group under its Chinese Platform Commission to
standardize the Chinese API for the two software platforms, so as to
ensure efficient Chinese language application development and
compatibility.  Members of the Working Groups include those from
MEI's Standardization Research Institute, Great Wall Computer Group
Corp, Stone Richsight Co Ltd, Software Institute of Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing Information Engineering Institute and State
Cereals and Oils Administration.  Upon acceptance of the standards,
China's software developers will be able to develop their
applications more effectively allowing them to bring products to
market faster.

Announcing the move at the China Information Technology Conference
(CITC) the director general of MEI's Computer Division, Zhang Qi,
said:  "In today's world where information technology is developing
rapidly and networks like the Internet are widely used, it is
imperative for the various levels of government, enterprises and
institutions in China to increase office automation as soon as
possible or they would risk falling further behind global trends.
Office automation is a key part of the country's infrastructure
development.

The successful launch of the OA system for the Ministry of Electronic
Industry will not only improve the way the ministry is managed, but
also set a model to demonstrate to other industry and government
organizations how the OA system can be used."

"IBM has been a long-term partner of China, committed to playing a
major role in contributing to China's modernization through bringing
its advanced technologies, solutions and experience to China," said
Michael Colleary, director of emerging markets, IBM Software Asia
Pacific.

"The OA system is a basic platform on which an organization can
construct its complete, sophisticated and networked information
infrastructure.  The launching of the OA system will have
far-reaching impact on the automation of the Chinese government.  We
are proud to be a part of the MEI OA project."

IBM's OS/2 operating system and Lotus Notes, developed to address the
requirements in the networked world, have become more and more
popular among customers worldwide.  In China, according to Colleary,
Lotus Notes has been installed in banks, insurance companies, the
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Petroleum,
the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Chemical Industry, provincial
and city governments, the China National Chemical Corp and the China
National Cereals and Oils Corp.

"This is a milestone announcement not only for IBM, but also the
Chinese software industry.  MEI should be applauded for its
leadership and initiatives to make the OA system a reality," added
Colleary.

* IBM, OS/2, DB2, RS/6000 are trademarks or registered trademarks of
International Business Machines Corp.

** Lotus Notes is the trademark of IBM's subsidiary Lotus
Development.


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