Platts’ new innovative, distribution capability, Platts XML Direct, offers flexible, reliable and fast delivery of its real-time content, including page-based ‘Alert’ services, selected newswires and Platts real-time numeric data. Platts XML Direct does this by combining IBM MQ Series® messaging technology with a new XML message schema.

In addition to Platts’ traditional proprietary assessments, Platts XML Direct now also provides real-time delivery of selected Platts Analytics data; North American Independent System Operators (ISO) pricing data (LMP, Congestion, Loss and Energy). Other selected Platts Analytics data sets will be added over time.

Key Features

Platts XML Direct provides you with:

• Fast, reliable distribution of Platts ‘Alert’ services, selected newswires and real-time numeric data ensuring you receive all the information you need, when you need it.
• A simpler, cleaner message format to improve timeliness and reduce processing errors versus the legacy format.
• Guaranteed messaging eliminates the risk of content being lost or dropped in transmission.
• Platts XML Direct delivery allows enterprise customers to directly ingest content into their workflow.

Platts XML Direct also allows Platts to stream content that has traditionally not been delivered by our real-time platform, thereby creating a single consolidated distribution platform for current and future Platts content. Platts can now use Platts XML Direct to stream real-time content directly to qualified customers.

Who Should Buy

Platts XML Direct is intended to enhance and satisfy the real-time content needs of our customers. Platts XML Direct is only available to customers licensed for the Platts real-time services listed at Delivery Platforms & Partners.

And, since Platts XML Direct is a “raw” streaming data feed, it requires site licensing instead of terminal-based licensing. Platts XML Direct also requires specialized technical resources and therefore may not be appropriate for all customers. The best way to determine whether Platts XML Direct is an appropriate solution for you and your company is to speak with a Platts Sales representative.

Benefits

Fast and reliable distribution of Platts ‘Alert’ services, selected newswires and real-time numeric data ensuring you receive all of the information you need as timely as possible;

• A simple, clean message format that improves the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of Platts content giving you confidence in the information you receive.
• Guaranteed messaging eliminates the risk of content being lost or dropped in transmission.
• The new XML message format uses a flexible structure that enables Platts to integrate new content sets never before available from Platts via real-time distribution.

Platts XML Direct is intended to enhance and satisfy the distribution needs of our real-time customers. To receive Platts XML Direct you will require:

• Appropriate licensing;
• Appropriate technical resources to implement and operate due to the ‘raw’ streaming data feed that Platts XML Direct provides;
• Additional communications and software licensing costs depending upon the solution chosen.

Please note that Platts XML Direct may not be appropriate for all customers and a Platts representative can assist to determine if it is right for your business.

Cost is separated into two categories – content subscription cost and distribution cost.

Content subscription cost depends upon the services included and the scope of users and/or locations subscribed.

Distribution cost is comprised of two components and can vary depending upon the solution chosen, messaging software licenses and communications charges. Configurations using IBM MQ Series® messaging software require licenses with IBM charged on a CPU basis which vary depending upon the hardware and redundancy chosen. The “synch” solution involves a much simpler fixed license cost. Communications charges will vary depending upon the amount of bandwidth and redundancy chosen.

Please contact a Platts Sales representative or visit our Contact Us page to request further details.

Standard Delivery

There are a number of factors that determine total implementation time, as follows:

• Content licensing, if required, can take a couple of months to process;
• Connectivity – If you are already a BT Radianznet customer, setting up connectivity can be done more quickly. If not, then ordering and installing a dedicated T-1 or BT Radianznet line can take 4-8 weeks.
• MQ Series® licensing and installation can take 1-2 weeks;
• Feed handler development is dependent upon resource and expetise levels, and can take several months to fully implement.

Once the licensing is settled, Platts provides a “Developer’s” feed allowing customers to develop their feed handlers while connectivity is being completed.