Global Technology, an IBM Business Partner and an outsourced services provider for IBM Data Management Division SA, is offering multivalue database users and value-added resellers (VARs) a chance to migrate to IBM UniVerse or UniData (U2) at a discount of more than 50%.
U2 has around 150 VARS, 60 000 customers and 2.2 million users worldwide. In SA, VARs have successfully converted more than 300 multivalue sites to UniVerse. U2 has the largest market share in the multivalue database market.
The MultiValue Migration Programme is designed to recruit new U2 users and VARs by migrating them from other multivalue vendors and will run until end-June 2002.
The programme offers a trade-in pricing promotion for non-U2 multivalue licences and includes consulting support for the database conversion, as well as training on database differences for all VARs. The offer includes workgroup, server and enterprise editions.
Alan Williams, CEO of the services division at Global Technology, says: "We are actively encouraging companies to move their mission-critical applications to IBM U2 as it provides a solid foundation for business. It offers the security of the IBM brand name, backed by a wealth of resources, tools and products to meet all e-business demands."
IBM UniVerse is an extended relational database that offers a high-performance, scalable data management environment for embedding in vertical applications. The extended relational model, which supports nested tables, allows for rapid business data modelling, eliminating redundant data, excessive resource usage and unnecessary I/O through time-consuming joins.
UniVerse simplifies data management and query logic, providing more power for online, high-transaction applications.
"Over 75% of the MultiValue database market uses IBM U2," says Ashlei Brett, data management channel manager at IBM SA. "As an IBM primary partner, Global Technology can provide the best in terms of quality, support, expertise of consulting and service. IBM remains committed to providing the products, technology and support multivalue customers need."
Williams says converting from another multivalue database to U2 is an uncomplicated process. No fundamental alterations to the database will be experienced when moving applications from any multivalue environment (Mentor, Pick, D3, R83, Revelation) to UniVerse. There could be issues to be resolved in the underlying operating system, but this will not affect the running of applications. UniVerse can be installed on Windows NT and 2000, and in Unix (all major vendors) and Linux environments.
Williams adds that while standard porting procedures are in place, Global Technology handles each conversion on a per-project type basis. "With each site/client`s application and data being different, it is of the utmost importance that the porting of the data and applications is handled on an individual basis."
IBM U2 interoperability solutions and tools are based on industry standards and U2 solutions coexist within the enterprise using ODBC, OLEDB and JDBC. U2 native interfaces include UniObjects, InterCall, and UniObjects for Java. U2 interfaces support device licensing, which supports the multi-windowed work model by providing up to 10 database connections from a single PC on a single licence.
Ashlei Brett adds that IBM U2 offers the richest set of development tools available in the multivalue space. These include RedBack, MITS, SB+ and SBClient and wIntegrate. In addition, external development tools such as C++, Visual Basic and Java can also be used as a result of U2`s compliance with industry standards.
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