Singapore (16 Oct 2001) - Ecquaria Limited (www.ecquaria.com), announces today that it has successfully developed and launched the New Singapore Shares (NSS) web site and eServices for the Singapore Government in just three weeks. The web site was built on the Public eServices Infrastructure (PSi), a Government-wide eServices delivery platform.

According to the Government's media release, "the Government is giving New Singapore Shares (NSS) to all adult Singapore citizens. The total cost of the NSS scheme is S$2.7 billion. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had announced the scheme at the National Day Rally on 19 August 2001."

In late September, Ecquaria was awarded the project to develop the NSS web site and eServices to enable eligible Singapore citizens to check, in real-time, their NSS allotment and instruct the Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB) to exchange their NSS for cash. The deadline for the launch of the NSS web site is 16 October 2001.

In the past, it would take at least six months to develop any transactional Government eService. Now, leveraging on a ready integrated eServices delivery infrastructure that the Singapore Government has put in place for all Government agencies - the Public eServices Infrastructure (PSi), Ecquaria helped launch the NSS web site and eServices in 3 weeks. Ecquaria is the Chief Architect commissioned by the Singapore Government to design and deploy PSi, together with a consortium of vendors.

Linking to Disparate Backend Systems and Syndication of Services

In order for Government agencies to build transactional eServices, they need to integrate the eServices to disparate data sources and services across different Government agencies. This integration process using traditional methods is tedious and requires a lot of time, skilled expertise and resources.

Now, using the Electronic Data eXchange (EDX) module provided by PSi, Government agencies can publish these backend systems and data sources as EDX services so that they can be reused, shared and invoked by the other agencies. This ensures the reusability of services and saves development time and costs.

In addition, PSi provides an eServices development tool known as the eService Generator (or the Service Integration Tool in Ecquaria Service-Oriented Platform) for developers to develop the eServices. It saves the developers from coding from scratch. Through a selection of pre-defined services, developers can develop the eServices' user interface, data fields and variables, define its business logic, and select from the range of existing Payment services, Security/Authentication services and EDX services. For example, when a Government agency is developing an eService, it can choose and invoke the Central Provident Fund (CPF) PAL PIN service provided by PSi as an authentication method instead of integrating to the CPF each time it needs to leverage on the CPF PAL PIN information.

This is the future of eServices: the ability to quickly modify or add services from already established applications and data sources on top of a proven eServices delivery platform.

NSS web site can be found on www.nss.gov.sg.

About Public eServices Infrastructure (PSi)

The PSi was developed and launched in February 2001 by InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and Ministry Of Finance (MOF) to enable the large-scale deployment of citizen-centric eServices. Ecquaria was part of a consortium commissioned by the Singapore Government to design, develop and deploy PSi. PSi is a Government-wide eServices delivery infrastructure launched in February to enable quick development, deployment and syndication of eServices across Government ministries, agencies and businesses. It is built on open standards such as J2EE and XML and it is the largest J2EE implementation in the world. Read more about success story.

About Ecquaria Limited

Ecquaria develops, provides and implements the Ecquaria Service-Oriented Platform™ to enable organisations worldwide to rapidly develop and deliver services on demand. Whatever business you are in, Ecquaria has the platform and expertise to help you transform into a Service-Oriented Organisation. For more information, please e-mail us at info@ecquaria.com or visit our web site at http://www.ecquaria.com.

The The Ecquaria Service-Oriented Platform™ includes:
Ecquaria Service-Oriented Platform™: Empowers your Web Services platform.
Ecquaria TradeBeans™: Empowers your B2B e-marketplace and online procurement.
Ecquaria ChannelBeans™: Empowers your B2B online marketing, sales and distribution.
Ecquaria AuctionBeans™: Empowers your B2B online auction site.
Ecquaria MerchantBeans™: Empowers your B2C online storefront and shopping mall.

Ecquaria has regional offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and supported by a network of channel alliances in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

For all public relations and corporate communication matters, please contact our PR department at pr@ecquaria.com.