BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2008--DataDirect Technologies, the unparalleled leader in data connectivity and mainframe integration and an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ:PRGS), has extended its world-class data connectivity components to the mainframe. The most recent release of the DataDirect® Shadow® mainframe integration suite features DataDirect Technologies' line of high-performance client drivers and patent-pending technologies that lower mainframe integration costs and simplify mainframe data access for improved performance. Using DataDirect products, independent software vendors (ISVs) now have a standard interface to provide their customers with access to a variety of data sources including both relational and non-relational mainframe data.
As mainframe integration becomes a critical requirement in corporate IT environments, ISVs and end-users are seeking the same fast, reliable data access to mainframe systems that they've come to experience with relational databases. Using standards-based data connectivity components from DataDirect Technologies, ISVs don't have to look any further, they can offer their customers standards-based, high-performance access to data wherever it is stored.
Unlike other alternatives for mainframe integration which provide point-to-point data access, the DataDirect Shadow product offers a single platform for exposing mainframe assets through industry standard SQL, SOAP and XML interfaces for optimum data access and interoperability. The new ODBC and JDBC client driver technology enhances the DataDirect Shadow product's data connectivity across a wide range of mainframe data and applications, including Adabas, DB2, CICS, IAM, IDMS, IMS, Natural and VSAM. Later this year, the product plans include support for ADO.NET data providers and the ANSI-92 SQL standard. Additionally the intent is that the DataDirect Shadow ANSI-92 SQL engine will support both CICS/VSAM and IMS/DB and provide full SQL grammar support.
"Streamlined access to data, regardless of where it resides, is a critical requirement for software vendors who serve enterprise IT," said John Goodson, vice president and general manager of DataDirect Technologies. "ISVs need access to mainframe data made easier--they don't need to become mainframe experts. DataDirect Technologies has built its reputation on simplifying the complexities of data access for the software industry. With the DataDirect Shadow mainframe integration suite, software vendors can replace multiple point integration products with a single, unified platform for standards-based connectivity and readily expand the market for their products to include a broad range of mainframe data sources."
More than 300 leading ISVs embed DataDirect Connect® drivers and data providers in over 500 commercial applications. Inserting DataDirect Technologies' industrial-strength drivers into the DataDirect Shadow product simplifies and streamlines data connectivity for distributed systems and enables ISVs to extend the value of existing applications with better performing, reliable and highly scalable mainframe data access. Users can also benefit from the patent-pending technology found in DataDirect Shadow version 7. The product's unique design opens IBM mainframe specialty engines to additional workloads beyond DB2, allowing significant portions of data queries to mainframe databases such as IMS/DB, VSAM and Adabas to run unmeasured and unrestricted--thereby improving throughput performance and lowering mainframe total-cost-of-ownership.
To learn more about the DataDirect Shadow product and how it can help software vendors cost-effectively expand into new markets, please join DataDirect Technologies for an informative Webinar on May 8, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. (ET). To register for the event, visit http://www.datadirect.com/company/multimedia/webinars/shadow/general/ index.ssp. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
About DataDirect Technologies
DataDirect Technologies is the software industry's only comprehensive provider of software for connecting the world's most critical business applications to data and services, running on any platform, using proven and emerging standards. Developers worldwide depend on DataDirect® products to connect their applications to an unparalleled range of data sources using standards-based interfaces such as ODBC, JDBC and ADO.NET, XQuery and SOAP. More than 300 leading independent software vendors and thousands of enterprises rely on DataDirect Technologies to simplify and streamline data connectivity for distributed systems and to reduce the complexity of mainframe integration. DataDirect Technologies is an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq:PRGS). For more information, visit www.datadirect.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 contains certain safe harbor provisions regarding forward-looking statements. Information provided by Progress Software Corporation and its affiliated companies ("PSC") or statements made by PSC directors, officers or employees from time to time, may contain "forward-looking" statements and information, which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual future results may differ materially. Statements indicating that we "expect," "estimate," "believe," "are planning" or "plan to" are forward-looking, as are other statements concerning future financial results, product offerings or other events that have not yet occurred. There are various factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Such factors are more fully described in Item 1A of PSC's Form 10-K under the heading "Risk Factors." Although we have sought to identify the most significant risks to our business, we cannot predict whether, or to what extent, any such risks may be realized. We also cannot assure you that we have identified all possible issues which we might face. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements that we make.
DataDirect, DataDirect Connect and Shadow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Java and all Java based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.