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To: QuietWon who wrote (44341)	1/19/1999 1:23:00 AM
From: Frost Byte	Respond to of 119973

Wall Street Journal Article today: As company after company announces new e-commerce intitiatives, you would think more attention would be given to e-commerce software companies such as Broadvision (BVSN)...this just out: January 18, 1999 Sema, BroadVision to Form Alliance That Will Plan E-Commerce Systems By MATTHEW ROSE Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL LONDON -- In its first foray into electronic commerce, Sema Group PLC has formed a strategic alliance with U.S. Internet software concern BroadVision Inc. The alliance, to be formally announced Monday, will develop systems for the telecommunications industry that allow consumers to receive bills, make payments and buy services over the Internet. While alliances of this type are common in fast-pace markets like telecoms, the deal highlights Sema's push to become a broad provider of computer services. For many years the Anglo-French company specialized in building customized systems for mostly aerospace and defense companies. Last month, Sema was appointed chief technology sponsor for the Olympic Games. "We want to be able to touch more people," said Sema vice president Tidu Maini. The move, however, probably won't satisfy some observers who are disappointed Sema hasn't yet made good its intention to acquire a significant U.S. company. Sema counts about 4% of its sales from the U.S. "Everybody is getting very impatient about it," said Richard Holway, an independent technology analyst based in Britain. Mr. Maini said this alliance will help Sema increase sales in the U.S. through BroadVision's beachhead in Silicon Valley. He added that Sema probably won't conclude any U.S. acquisition until the second half of the year. Pehong Chen, BroadVision's chief executive, said the companies talked about an equity investment and added he would be "very open" to deepening the companies' ties in the future. Initially, Sema will invest around $5 million in the venture. The fast-growing telecoms industry has become a key focus for Sema in recent years, especially the mobile sector. The telecoms industry was a bigger contributor to Sema's results in the first-half of 1998 than any other sector, with almost 18% of total sales. The alliance with Redwood Hills, California-based BroadVision is Sema's first electronic-commerce project and a rare external alliance. Sema typically develops products in-house. Initially, the alliance will develop systems that allow customers to pay their bills online, and by the end of the year it expects to release a product that is fully integrated with Sema's existing billing software. As part of the deal, Sema will become BroadVision's main systems integrator world-wide. BroadVision, which has been cooperating with Sema on a number of projects in recent years, makes software that enables customers including U S West, Swisscom AG and Vodafone PLC to do sales and marketing transactions on the Web.