HP Updates Middleware-Engineering Initiative; Initiative Speeds Success for Mainframe OLTP Users; Includes New Middleware, Services and Partner Solutions to Speed up Three-tier Client/Server Deployment

Business Wire, Sept 18, 1995

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 1995-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced an update to its middleware, or midengineering, initiative. The initiative is designed to reduce deployment time for business-critical distributed on-line transaction processing (OLTP).

HP's Middleware Engineering Initiative helps businesses gain a greater competitive advantage through deploying flexible, midengineered solutions or reduce costs through mainframe re-hosting. It provides a low-risk method for customers to start experiencing payback from an enterprise client/server approach.

The focus areas of the update are as follows:

o customers using distributed middleware, made successful

through the initiative;

o new Channel Partner programs and enhanced

relationships; and

o new-version announcements for DCE/9000, Encina/9000 and

CICS for HP 9000.

According to Bernard Guidon, senior vice president and group general manager of HP's Computer Systems Group, "The Middleware Engineering Initiative helps customers take full advantage of the distributed computing paradigm by helping them deploy DCE technologies rapidly in a mission-critical environment."

CUSTOMER SUCCESSES

o Credit Industriel Alsace-Lorraine (CIAL) of France

deployed an open-systems platform while preserving

application and MIS personnel skills investments. A

two-phase commit to the mainframe was key for meeting

their business requirements.

o Caja Castilla La Mancha (CCM) of Spain has

interoperability with the mainframe, has developed

UNIXr system-based applications for new lines of

business, still uses current infrastructure technology,

and has seen a reduction in mainframe costs.

o Lexis-Nexis has achieved flexibility and a

time-to-market edge in application development, as well

as superior price-performance over mainframes.

o HP Corporate IT services has standardized on DCE for

three-tier client/server application development, and

the initial deployments are providing dramatic

improvement in response times and better-quality

applications.

NEW HP PROGRAMS, CHANNEL PARTNER PROGRAMS AND ENHANCED RELATIONSHIPS

o DCE/9000, CICS for HP 9000, Encina/9000 Jumpstart

programs from HP enable customers to get a rapid start

in implementing DCE, CICS and Encina applications on

HP-UX(1) through a customized program that includes

education, installation, configuration and start-up

assistance.

o Worldwide Chain Store Systems (WCSS) of Chicago now is

an HP international partner. It brings to market a

suite of products for purchasing, warehouse management,

store order management, labor management and

radio-linked warehouse control running on HP DCE/9000

and CICS for HP 9000 systems.

According to Owen Shea, WCSS president and chief executive officer, "Our goal is to offer software solutions that provide our clients with the flexibility to choose the platform for their needs." HP and Novell today announced several joint projects that integrate TUXEDO with HP-UX 10.0. This integration will enable HP customers to utilize TUXEDO in highly mission-critical environments on the HP 9000 platform. Third-party vendors supporting TUXEDO on HP 9000 include BMC Software; Dynasty Technologies, Inc.; JYACC, Magna Software Corp.; and ITI.

According to Bruce Talley, HP's Middleware Engineering Initiative business development manager, "Our strategy is to clearly differentiate HP as the leading open OLTP vendor in the industry."

"TUXEDO is the most proven OLTP monitor today," said Joe Menard, vice president and general manager of Novell's Distributed Services Division. "HP is the largest-selling platform for Novell's TUXEDO system. This agreement is certain to further cement the relationship between these leading providers of open on-line transaction systems."

o Magna Software and HP join in offering a special 'Three

Tiers in Three Days' program, which supports MIS

personnel in learning to build three-tier client/server

applications with the middleware products that are part

of the HP Middleware Engineering Initiative. This

program is based on the use of Magna Software's MAGNA X

product, an application generator for three-tier

client/server applications.

o Circle Computer Group, Ltd. of the UK now offers

education on application development and systems

administration for CICS/9000.

o Transarc Corporation now is an HP value-added reseller

(VAR) and is licensed to resell DCE/9000, Encina/9000,

CICS for HP 9000 and OODCE/9000 through its sales

force.

Key systems integrators include EMS; Kapsch Aktiengesellschaft; IBS Conversions, Inc.; and Japan Information Engineering Co. Ltd.. New systems integrators include Analytiker; NasTel Technologies, Inc.; Hitachi America, Ltd.; OKI, IntelliSoft Corporation; and Deloitte & Touche.

HP also has formed partnerships with leading independent software vendors (ISVs) and tools providers -- such as HALTEK; Brixton Systems, Inc.; Worldwide Chain Stores Systems Inc.; Open Environment Corp.; and Magna Software Corp. -- to enable rapid development and deployment of client/server solutions.