Software AG releases EntireX DCOM for Digital Unix 64-bit

Johannesburg, 24 Feb 1998

Software AG recently announced that full 64-bit implementation of COM for Digital Unix is now available as part of its middleware EntireX. With this release, transparent interoperation between COM components is now possible between 64-bit Digital Unix and the 32-bit versions already released on Windows 95, Windows NT, Solaris, and IBM OS/390. Software AG and Microsoft also have agreed to jointly develop COM versions for HP/UX 11.0 and AIX 5.x. COM will be available for user testing on these platforms in the 3rd quarter of 1998. "Software AG is committed to help enterprises integrate their growing Windows platforms seamlessly into enterprise-wide COM-based IT architectures, comprising Windows, Unix and IBM mainframes," said Dr. Peter Mossack, Corporate Vice President Research and Development at Software AG, Darmstadt, Germany. "Our product deliveries and continuing work with Microsoft underscores that commitment." Spacelabs Medical Systems, a leader in technology for the health care industry, is already using EntireX DCOM for Digital Unix in its high-performance patient monitoring systems. Microsoft has recently licensed COM source and binaries for key platforms from Software AG, and will make the technology available through its channels. The two companies will continue to collaborate on future directions for COM on non-Wintel platforms. "Software AG has been an integral partner with Microsoft in delivering the interoperability that customers demand," said Robert Muglia, Vice President at Microsoft, Redmond. "Our relationship with Software AG is stronger than ever." Software AG`s EntireX middleware product family, available in South Africa through Software AG local representatives, SPL`s Application Warehousing Division, complements COM with an already mature, powerful broker technology that includes messaging, multi-protocol support for communications, and access to security systems. The advanced technology of the EntireX tools provides COM interfaces for existing, unmodified applications on Unix and IBM mainframe systems. Programmers can then easily access those applications as enterprise-level COM objects.

Software AG, based in Darmstadt, Germany, is the second-largest independent software company in Germany and one of the 20 largest in the world. According to preliminary year-end results, Software AG achieved ca. 14% growth in 1997. Sales for the year amounted to ca. DM 725 million, with pre-tax profits totaling over DM 50 million. After Software AG in March 1997 spun off a majority stake of its US subsidiary Software AG Systems Inc. in Reston, Virginia, USA, only the subsidiary license and maintenance revenues were reported, not its service revenue. For this reason, the nominal annual revenue for 1997 (DM 725 million) is lower than the one shown for 1996 (DM 759 million). The reported growth is calculated by comparing 1997 revenue with that of the previous year`s based on the comparable company structure. As at the end of 1997, Software AG employed 2,063 employees. For more information please visit Software AG`s homepage at www.softwareag.com. Software AG and EntireX are trademarks of Software AG. The names of all other products and companies mentioned are given for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.