IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 16, 2005 - The Motorcycle Industry Council announced this week the publication of a white paper titled Implementation of Electronic Orders for the Powersports Industry. The document was co-authored by Microsoft Corporation and describes a collaborative effort led by the MIC to define and implement an open standard for electronic transactions, the Powersports Standard Protocol, in the powersports industry.

Microsoft learned of the PSP initiative through mutual industry contacts and in March approached the MIC to ask about collaborating on a white paper. Microsoft was particularly interested to learn that the protocol would employ web services for real-time business transactions.

MIC supplied papers to assist Microsoft writers in gathering background information on the developing standard, and the various steps that had been taken to validate the concept at the working level. The result was a document that examines the opportunities presented by such a capability and analyzes the expected benefits of the approach.

"It's no accident that a company like Microsoft has expressed interest in the PSP initiative," said MIC President Tim Buche. "The opportunity to streamline the exchange of business data between suppliers and retailers is high on the agendas of many an industry today. The powersports industry is fortunate to have the resources, the willingness to collaborate on solutions, and the determination to see a project of this scope through to completion."

Microsoft intends to post the white paper on Microsoft.com. The MIC will also be providing a link for its member companies in the near future.