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8 October 1996

Hitachi, Ltd. will release on October 11, Hitachi Commerce Solutions, a lineup of software products and support services for developing electronic commerce(EC) applications.

In Japan, EC related technology is being developed as part of the Electronic Commerce Promotion Project initiated under the auspices of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and the Information- Technology Promotion Agency (IPA)*. Within the promotion project, a number of test projects are underway to ensure the security of electronic commerce transactions, and the use of verification procedures and electronic money for on-line settlements.

Hitachi has been a pioneer in the development of hardware, software and services essential to the establishment of EC applications. In addition, the company has been providing advanced EC-related technology and expertise through its involvement in the development of a secure, common platform Secure Electronic Commerce Environment (SECE)** and IC cards for a cashless EC settlement system and in the test project. Hitachi is also developing products and services related to MONDEX, a new electronic cash system.

Hitachi Commerce Solutions provide a full range of electronic transaction verification, credit card settlement and other functions required to support EC applications between enterprises and individual consumers. Components include software products such as mall servers, store management, payment servers, payment gateways that support settlements between the cyberspace retail facilities and financial institutions, including consumer credit card services and electronic transaction verification servers.

Hitachi is one of the first vendors to provide a full support environment covering all processes, procedures and operations, from provision and distribution of information to settlements. Hitachi Commerce Solutions will be accompanied by the simultaneous release of planning and consultation services designed to help customers implement and operate EC applications built to match the needs of users. EC application test and evaluation services will also be provided.

Hitachi will continue to develop products and services relating to bank remittances, settlements and MONDEX-based systems, and to provide its own encryption systems, IC cards and electronic verification systems. As well as providing products and services for EC transactions between enterprises and consumers, it will also continue with its involvement in the area of intercompany EC applications, and the distribution of digital content over open networks.

Some of these products will be on display at Data Show '96 which opens October 14.

Notes:
* Hitachi Commerce Solutions include technology developed as part of the Electronic Commerce Promotion Project initiated by the Information-Technology Promotion Agency(IPA).
** SECE comprises a Secure Commerce Protocol and its common platform to ensure a secure environment for EC transactions conducted between enterprises and consumers over open networks.

[Pricing and availability of major products/services]

	Price	Release Date
(1) Shopping System	863,000 yen	end of Feb., 1997
(2) Secure Settlement System	7,686,000 yen	end of Feb., 1997
(3) Electronic Commerce System	12,726,000 yen	end of Feb., 1997

- System applications require Windows NT 3.51.
- Support services for the systems will be provided from Dec. 1, 1996.

- MONDEX is a registered trademark of MONDEX International.
- Windows and WindowsNT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the U.S. and other countries.
- The official appellation of WindowsNT is Microsoft Windows NT Server Operating System.