hide random home http://www.microsoft.com/SQL/netwisepr.htm (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)
Netwise, Inc.

Microsoft Acquires Interoperability Technology, Expertise From Netwise Inc.

For Immediate Release
Nov. 6, 1995

Acquisition to Bring Enterprise Data and Applications Interoperability To Windows NT and Microsoft BackOffice Servers

REDMOND, Wash. - Nov. 6, 1995 - To meet the growing needs of customers deploying the Microsoft® BackOffice™ integrated family of server software in the enterprise, Microsoft Corp. today announced it has acquired the assets and expertise of Netwise Inc., a Boulder, Colo.-based firm that specializes in application- and data-interoperability solutions. Netwise® products provide high-performance middleware for integrating mainframe and client-server environments. Microsoft plans to integrate the Netwise TransAccess® technology with its Microsoft SQL Server™ database management system, Microsoft Visual Tools products and OLE technologies.

"Customers have told us that interoperability to mainframe databases and applications is a key requirement for deploying the Microsoft Windows NT™ operating system and Microsoft BackOffice servers in the enterprise," said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of the business systems division at Microsoft. "With the acquisition of Netwise technology and expertise, Microsoft is making it easier for customers to build heterogeneous distributed computing solutions that take advantage of their mainframe investments while exploiting the unique capabilities of Microsoft's high-end database and transaction-processing platforms."

"The Microsoft acquisition of technology and expertise from Netwise Inc. shows that Microsoft has been listening to its customers and is taking steps to give them the right tools," said Dan Kusnetzky, research director, International Data Corp. "This move shows that Microsoft is serious about being an enterprise-class software supplier."

Joe Broderick, president and chief operating officer of Netwise, added, "Major customers such as Citibank and AT&T have chosen TransAccess because they are seeking a strong solution for heterogeneous computing. Customers can now rest assured that the TransAccess solution is backed by a leading software company with worldwide presence. Customers will gain tremendous benefits in product functionality and interoperability from the combination of Microsoft and Netwise products, as well as an assurance that their existing investments in technology will be protected."

"The addition of tightly integrated, high-performance connectivity software for the Microsoft BackOffice family of server software will greatly increase its value," said Larry Baldridge, director of systems development at Freightliner Corp. "This addition will move Microsoft SQL Server from being primarily a platform for LAN-based client-server solutions to a full-fledged mission-critical database that can be integrated with production systems on the mainframe."

Microsoft's Commitment to Interoperability

Interoperability software consists of products that allow different hardware and software platforms, data sources, and communications standards to be connected, shielding users and developers from differences between them. Microsoft believes that the availability of robust application- and data-interoperability software is essential to enable customers to realize the full potential of distributed client-server technologies. Microsoft's commitment to interoperability extends across its full product line, from operating systems and network infrastructure, to database and development tools, to systems administration, messaging and Internet services.

TransAccess Technology

Netwise TransAccess products include Application/Integrator, Application/Integrator Workbench, TransAccess for DB2®, Legacy/Integrator® and Application/Integrator for Microsoft SQL Server. These products provide specific solutions for integrating mainframe, IMS(tm) and CICS(tm)-based applications that control corporate data stored in ADABAS, CA-IDMS, CA-Datacom/DB, DB2, IMS DB and VSAM databases with Windows NT or UNIX® servers and Windows® operating system-compatible desktops. TransAccess supports two- and three-tier architectures with products available for MVS, UNIX, Windows NT, Windows and MS-DOS® operating systems.

"TransAccess allows mainframe transaction programs to act as servers for Windows NT-based applications or, alternately, as 'enterprise clients' that initiate and interact with Windows NT Server-compatible applications such as Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft BackOffice," said David Vaskevitch, director of enterprise computing in the developer division at Microsoft. "This architecture supports true, bidirectional distributed processing and data sharing between the mainframe and the network. This approach is very well matched with Microsoft's commitment to provide the industry's leading scalable database and transaction-processing architectures for distributed computing."

Existing Netwise and Microsoft products will be combined into a unified product set designed to make optimal use of the complementary features of both offerings. TransAccess already supports Windows NT, Microsoft SQL Server, SNA Server, the Visual Basic® programming system and the Visual C++® development system. TransAccess Application/Integrator for Microsoft SQL Server, for example, provides mainframe-based stored procedures for integrated data retrieval and distributed processing within the DBMS. In addition, mainframe-based transaction programs written in COBOL, RPG or C can access data and share processing directly with Microsoft SQL Server or other Microsoft BackOffice server applications, a powerful capability for distributed applications in the enterprise.

Combined Expertise Helps Ensure Strong Engineering, Service and Support

The Netwise product support, engineering, and sales teams are joining Microsoft to help ensure smooth migration for customers using TransAccess products. The Netwise product support team will become part of Microsoft's mission-critical product support services unit and will provide uninterrupted technical support for all Netwise products, including components that reside on UNIX platforms and IBM MVS. The Netwise consultants, systems engineers and sales professionals will join Microsoft's enterprise customer unit as an intact team and will continue to sell and service the TransAccess product line within their respective territories in the United States and abroad. Netwise's engineering and development staff will bring its expertise in both transparent and procedural mainframe interoperability to Microsoft's developer division to help ensure tight integration with Microsoft's database and tools products.

Working With Industry Partners to Help Ensure a Choice of Open Solutions

Microsoft has a long-standing commitment to open systems and works closely with companies to help ensure customers a broad range of interoperability solutions in the enterprise. Microsoft has led the industry in helping to define the first open-standards-based application programming interface (API) for data access with Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). Microsoft was among the first database vendors to deliver programmable RDBMS gateway technology with Open Data Services (ODS) for Microsoft SQL Server, which provides capabilities for invoking heterogeneous applications and services and is the foundation for turnkey gateways that provide read- and write-access to any data source through common APIs. Microsoft set the technical standard for desktop application interoperability with OLE and is also the first vendor to provide an architecture for heterogeneous data replication based on open industry standards.

Microsoft maintains business alliances and licensing relationships with major connectivity and middleware vendors, including Attachmate Corp., Digital Equipment Corp., Information Builders, Platinum Technology, Showcase Corp., Software AG, StarWare, Sybase Inc. and Visigenic Software, among others. These companies provide a range of solutions, including transparent gateways, copy-management tools, and distributed technologies that help ensure interoperability between Microsoft platforms and a wide range of heterogeneous computing environments.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

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Microsoft, BackOffice, Windows NT, Windows, MS-DOS, Visual Basic and Visual C++ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Netwise, TransAccess and Legacy/Integrator are registered trademarks of Netwise Inc.
DB2 is a registered trademark and IMS and CICS are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.
UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company Ltd.

For More Information, Press Only:
Claudia Toth, Waggener Edstrom, (503) 245-0905