Although XML came from a document world, it does not have to be about documents. In fact XML is optimized for the exchange of structured data, and that is critical to commerce. It is platform independent, it is an open standard. ICE is a perfect example of an industry protocol that uses open standards. ICE is both about publishing, data exchange and also about electronic commerce.
ICE demonstrates the immediate utility of XML in a major way.
It provides support for the syndication process . Syndication is the controlled distribution of information to a set of individuals known as subscribers . ICE is designed to facilitate electronic syndication of either of these kinds of information on the Web. On-line businesses have syndication problems. In order for eCommerce to suceed, we need an easy way to establish on-line, networked partnerships.