NEWS/EVENTS
OpenConnect Gains Momentum for Mainframe-to-SOA Suite with the Introduction of soaConnect CDI
Joint Product Offering with HostBridge Technology Provides Automation to CICS-Based Applications
Dallas – Mar. 21,2006 - OpenConnect Systems, Inc., delivering technology solutions that turn mainframe assets into business value, is building on the success of its newly launched mainframe-to-SOA suite, soaSolution, through a new partnership with HostBridge Technology. A leader in Customer Information Control System (CICS)-based integration software products, the HostBridge Technology patented product line complements OpenConnect's screen logic interface strategy by providing host-based process automation, improving organizational performance, increasing flexibility and simplifying development. The new joint product, soaConnect CDI, is mainframe software that allows CICS transactions and data to be easily integrated with other applications.
While these other applications are typically client, server, or web-based, they can also be other CICS or mainframe-based applications. soaConnect CDI eliminates the need to change or rewrite CICS applications. This allows customers to quickly transform existing CICS business systems into Web services, integrate them with business processes, or make easily accessible to partner networks.
“Organizations committed to providing vital utility and transactional business functions are increasingly evaluating service-oriented architectures to modernize their mainframe systems,” said Dale Vecchio, Research Vice President at Gartner. “SOA is increasingly recognized as a valuable approach for extending the reach of existing, mission critical, mainframe legacy systems and data to new, more modern architectures.”
HostBridge Technology develops computer software that uses XML to integrate CICS with applications without the use of screen-scraping or changes to the mainframe. The HostBridge product provides the ability to immediately enable legacy applications as Web services.
“Mainframe-based data remains the core of most business critical solutions,” said Edward Peters, CEO of OpenConnect. “While traditional systems integrators like IBM claim a consultant running through a questionnaire is the only way to figure out how to best leverage your IT assets, there is a better way. OpenConnect has developed a quick and low-cost method to creating a ROI roadmap for enterprise customers. Our solution begins by first comprehending the business processes through monitoring and analyzing all of the business users’ daily activities. Our partnership with HostBridge further extends our capabilities for successful mainframe-to-SOA enablement, providing customers with the ability to configure the appropriate solution that best leverages their mainframe assets into their SOA.”
OpenConnect’s soaSolution consists of three core components: soaComprehend, soaConfigure and soaConnect. The soaConnect piece allows for highly scalable, run-time access to the mainframe with unparalleled security. Whether this access is through Screen Logic Integration (SLI) or CICS Direct Interfaces (CDI), soaConnect enables access administration to the service based on end-user credentials, time of day, as well as the transaction within the service being invoked.
“OpenConnect has a strong technology backbone and is a pioneer in the mainframe community,” said Russ Teubner, CEO of HostBridge Technology. “This partnership between two companies that share such a rich history in technology gives customers flexibility to increase business performance when transitioning mainframe assets to service-oriented architectures.”
About HostBridge Technology
HostBridge Technology develops and markets its patented, CICS-based integration software products. The company’s primary products are HostBridge and HostBridge Extended. Together, these products allow organizations to expose their existing mainframe-based applications and data as business services within a services oriented architecture (SOA). HostBridge products are designed to exploit the ongoing advancements in CICS Transaction Server, and to provide the level of scalability, reliability, and performance expected of mainframe solutions. By using industry-standards like XML, SOAP, WSDL and ECMAScript, HostBridge saves companies time and money needed to integrate disparate applications, immediately extends the ROI of CICS resources and creates new value through business integration. For more information, visit www.hostbridge.com.
About OpenConnect
OpenConnect is the premier supplier of technology solutions that turn information technology assets into business value. With a rich history of innovations in both mainframe and Web technologies, OpenConnect helps the world's largest and most complex organizations comprehend, configure and securely connect to their mainframe applications and data through Web-based architectures. OpenConnect's solutions save companies time and money, improve return on legacy technology investments and minimize the risk of expansion into the online realm. OpenConnect's products are distributed in more than 60 countries and used by more than 60 percent of Fortune 100 companies. For more information on OpenConnect, visit www.oc.com.
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