DARMSTADT, Germany, and REDMOND, Wash., March 21, 2000 — Software AG and Microsoft Corp. today announced a strategic agreement to integrate Software AG’s enterprise integration technologies with the Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000 to extend its COM Transaction Integrator (COMTI) feature to 3270 I/O-based Customer Information Control System (CICS) applications. This offering expands the integration of Microsoft® Windows® and non-Windows operating system-based enterprise systems and provides a broader offering by Microsoft and Software AG in the application integration space. The arrangement also includes support for Software AG’s Natural applications. Software AG will adapt its existing OS/390-based technology to integrate tightly with COMTI, and will sell the new offering, the Software AG CICS 3270 Adapter for Host Integration Server 2000The companies will work together to market and support the solution to enterprise customers.
“We are delighted to cooperate so closely with Software AG,”
said Tod Nielsen, vice president of marketing for the Developer Group at Microsoft.
“For our customers, extending the functional spectrum of our host-integration technology in this way is essential to the long-term protection of existing investments and allows them to leverage the full power of the Windows DNA 2000 platform.”
Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000, currently in beta testing and expected to be released by midyear 2000, provides the infrastructure that allows customers to integrate their existing host applications with the Windows platform. This new offering extends the capabilities of COMTI, a key component of Host Integration Server 2000, by giving customers a more complete offering for host integration and legacy data access.
The immediate benefit for Software AG and Microsoft customers is the ability to
“plug” terminal-oriented applications from mainframe platforms into applications running on a Windows 2000-based or Windows NT® Server-based operating system. This enables users to combine the strengths of existing mainframe applications with the huge business potential of new technologies. This type of application integration is essential to creating new business-to-business solutions that utilize the power of the Business Internet.
“Software AG is pleased to deliver a key interoperability solution that builds on Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000,”
said Dr. Erwin K
ö
nigs, chairman and CEO, Software AG.
“By combining our complementary strengths, Software AG and Microsoft can integrate enterprise applications on diverse systems. The result will be outstanding integration between Microsoft and host-based systems, which benefit any enterprise with heterogeneous IT platforms.”
The Software AG CICS 3270 Adapter for Host Integration Server 2000 is expected to be broadly available during the third quarter of 2000.
About Software AG
Software AG is Europe’s largest system software provider and a major global player in this market. The company is one of the most important technology partners for data management and electronic business. Since 1998 the company has focused its development activities on XML products for the Internet. With more than 2,600 employees and representatives in 60 countries, Software AG achieved sales revenue of DM 716 million in 1999. Its distribution and technology partners include market leaders such as Sun Microsystems and innovative IT solutions providers such as Extensibility, SCO and Instranet. Software AG’s products control the central IT processes of thousands of renowned companies worldwide. Some examples of these are Lufthansa, British Sky Broadcasting, ZDF, Dresdner Bank AG, Deutsche Bahn AG (German Rail), BP and VIAG Intercom.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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