LONDON (03/21/2000) - Software AG and Microsoft Corp. are progressing with their strategic agreement to provide software that links mainframe applications to Microsoft's upcoming Host Integration Server 2000 and today announced specific integration features.
Software AG's 3270 I/O-based Customer Information Control System (CICS) software package has now been integrated to work with the COM Transaction Integrator (COMTI) feature on Microsoft's server, the companies said in a statement.
Last February, Software AG announced the agreement to develop ways of allowing users of Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 2000, to access IBM Corp.'s CICS-based mainframe applications. CICS is a transaction monitor that manages high-volume transactions conducted on a mainframe computer. [See "Software AG to Link CICS to Microsoft Server," Feb. 24.]Software AG plans to integrate its technology based on IBM's OS/390 with COMTI, and will sell the new product as the Software AG CICS 3270 Adapter for Host Integration Server 200, Microsoft and Software AG said. Microsoft will work with Software AG to market and support the product, the companies said.
The integration will also work with Software AG's Natural software products, Microsoft and Software AG said.
The main advantage for customers, particularly those in the business-to-business e-commerce arena, is the ability to integrate terminal-oriented applications from mainframe platforms with new technologies running on Microsoft servers through simple "plug-in" capabilities, the companies said.
The Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000, which is still being beta tested, is expected to reach the mass market by mid-year. The Software AG CICS 3270 Adapter for Host Integration Server 200 should debut on the market by the third quarter, Microsoft and Software AG said.
The companies did not disclose any pricing plans for the new integrated products.
Microsoft, in Redmond, Washington, can be reached at +1-425-882-8080 or at http://www.microsoft.com/.Software AG, in Darmstadt, Germany can be reached at +49-6151-92-0, or at http://www.softwareag.com/.