Joint Development Plans

Electrocomponents PLC
22 February 2000


    RS COMPONENTS AND COMMERCE ONE DEVELOP LEADING B2B SOLUTION
              Commerce One and Electrocomponents plc
                 Announce Joint Development Plans
                                 
February   22,  2000 - Commerce One (NASDAQ: CMRC), the  leading
provider  of global  business  to  business  e-commerce solutions,
today   announced  joint development  plans with Electrocomponents
PLC  (LSE:  ECM),  the holding  company of   RS   Components,   to
provide  a  seamless  integration between  their   B2B   e-commerce
solutions.

RS   Components,   Europe's   leading distributor  of  electronic,
electrical   and  mechanical components, will develop  a  standard
interface  with  Commerce One  to ensure  that  mutual   customers
can gain access to RS products,  services  and support through the
Commerce One(c) MarketSite Portal Solution and Commerce One(c) 
BuySite e-procurement application.

This   development  builds on successful RS Components  e-Commerce
initiatives  which  include the award winning rswww.com  site  and
the   more   recently   launched  e-Purchasing    solution.   This
development   with  Commerce  One  is  a  next    step    in   the
Electrocomponents  programme  which  is  designed  to   give   all
customers rapid access   to   RS  products  and  service   through
their  chosen   procurement application.

Customers   will  now be able to simultaneously gain  the  process
automation   and  connectivity benefits of the MarketSite  Portals
around   the   world   and   harness  the   rich    content    and
functionality  of the RS Components sites.  Integration  will   be
achieved    through  a  combination  of  placing  RS    Components
catalogue  content directly on MarketSite Portals,  and  providing
direct  access to the  RS Components web site through the Commerce
One Solution.

The   Global   Trading  Web  for business-to-business  e-commerce,
allows   trading partners around the world to do business  through
vertical  and  regional  portals  running   on  the  Commerce  One
MarketSite  portal solution. RS Components intends to  participate
in  MarketSite  Portals throughout the Global  Trading  Web  Steve
Hone, General Manager, E-Commerce at Electrocomponents, commented,
'We  are  working with Commerce One to develop rapid access to the
RS  product  range and  services  in  anticipation   of  customers
purchasing   needs.    As   mutual  customers  adopt  and  develop
Commerce  One  solutions, they will be able to  take advantage  of
the  infrastructure and connectivity that we have developed  under
this   agreement.   We  believe  that  the  Global   Trading   Web
represents    a  significant  development in  global  business  to
business   e-commerce  and  look forward  to using our  experience
to help Commerce One and its partners develop it further..'

'RS    Components  has  proved  itself  to  be  one  of  the  most
progressive  and  farsighted  suppliers in terms of exploiting  e-
commerce,'  commented  Paul   Taylor,  vice  president  &  general
manager  EMEA  at Commerce One. 'I am very pleased  that  Commerce
One,  and  our  Marketsite partners, will  have  the  benefit   of
working  with   RS   Components.  This will allow  us  to  provide
procurement   organisations  with   seamlessly    integrated    e-
procurement  capabilities  that  combine   the undoubted strengths
of both RS Components and Commerce One.'

About Electrocomponents plc

Electrocomponents is the leading high service B2B distributor   of
electronic, electrical  and   mechanical components serving 1  500
000    customers    in    160   countries    around   the   world.
Electrocomponent shares are listed on the  London Stock  Exchange.
For   more   information,  visit   Electrocomponents   online   at
http://www.electrocomponents.com  or  visit   the   trading   site
of the   RS Components subsidiary at http://rswww.com

About Commerce One

Commerce   One  (NASDAQ: CMRC) is the leader in global  e-commerce
solutions   for  business.   Through its  products,  portals,  and
services,  Commerce  One  creates access  to  worldwide   markets,
allowing  anyone  to  buy  from  anyone,  anytime,  anywhere.  The
Commerce One Global Trading Web  is the world's largest business to-
business   trading   community.   Comprised  of  many   open    e-
marketplaces,   the  Global  Trading  Web  provides  unprecedented
economies   of  scale  for  buying organizations,  suppliers,  and
service providers worldwide.  Commerce  One  is located in  Walnut
Creek,  Calif., and can be reached by phone at (800)  308-3838  or
[phone] or via the Internet at http://www.commerceone.com/.

Commerce   One,   Many  Markets.  One  Source.,   Global   Trading
Web,    BuySite,  MarketSite,   Global  Trading  Platform,  Common
Business  Library,  XML Development Kit, XML  Commerce  Connector,
MarketView,  and SupplyOrder are either trademarks or   registered
trademarks of Commerce One, Inc.  All other company,  product, and
brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.


Company Contact:                     Press Contact:
Chris Phillips                       Nicola Price/Stella Couch
Commerce One                         Write Image
[phone]                [phone]
[e-mail]       [e-mail]
                                     [e-mail]


Steve Hone
Electrocomponents PLC
[phone]
[e-mail]