NetManage Announces Support for Web Services; Host Integration Leader Continues to Bring Legacy Systems to the Front Line with OnWeb

Business Wire, April 16, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 2002

NetManage, Inc. (Nasdaq:NETM), experts in host access and integration solutions, today announced that the next release of OnWeb(TM) will extend the Company's support for Web Services by providing Web Services Description Language (WSDL) and supporting Simple Object Access Protocols (SOAP).

NetManage's OnWeb is a server-based, host integration solution that allows companies to quickly access and extend host information, applications and business processes to customers, partners and employees in the presentation format and device of their choice. The current version of the product, OnWeb 5.2, already facilitates the development of Web Services, especially those requiring data or business logic from existing host applications. Today, OnWeb makes host resources available in XML, JavaBean or COM form, the emerging industry standards needed for Web Services transactions.

OnWeb 6.0 will provide the transport protocols required for complete Web Services compliancy. With added support for WSDL and SOAP, OnWeb will give customers an even more powerful development and deployment environment for delivering legacy mainframe application functionality as Web Services for both the Java and .NET platforms.

"We see tremendous interest in Web Services technology as an interfacing mechanism for existing systems within an organization," said Dale Vecchio, research director at Gartner, Inc. "Exposing legacy systems as Web Services enables organizations to leverage their working applications for new, internal and external business processes in a relatively low-cost, low-risk way."

Web Services represent the next step in the evolution of component architectures, taking applications beyond the enterprise and providing greater platform independence and improved integration capabilities. Industry analysts forecast substantial benefits from Web Services, including increases in IT efficiency through improved development practices, reductions in complexity for integration projects, and reduced costs for establishing and maintaining Web connections with trading partners.

The first true wave of Web Services deployment will be largely legacy-based, because legacy systems house the types of critical business data and processes that organizations need to share and leverage. More than 70 percent of the information critical to business still resides on legacy systems like IBM mainframes, Unix servers, DEC VAX minicomputers, IBM AS/400 and others. The decades-old applications running on these legacy systems contain over 85 percent of the pivotal business logic that sustains and controls worldwide commerce on a 24x7 basis. These well-tested business process engines offer a low-risk entry into the Web Services arena.

While enhancing its support for the development and deployment of Web Services, OnWeb will maintain its open, standards-agnostic approach by supporting both .NET and J2EE-based frameworks. This flexibility is important because most organizations have not yet decided whether they will standardize on one of these dominant Web Services platforms or use a combination of both, and furthermore, companies cannot dictate or predict what platforms their partners, customers and other third-party affiliates will be using. The OnWeb approach will offer reduced risk to customers while helping them avoid vendor lock-in.

"Companies can use OnWeb today to facilitate their initial forays into Web Services," said Zvi Alon, president and CEO of NetManage. "As our customers' Web Services strategies evolve, OnWeb will be there to ensure legacy data and business logic can be leveraged. Ultimately, this comes down to getting maximum value out of existing assets while taking advantage of the promises of Web Services."

Availability

OnWeb 6.0 will be available in Q4, 2002.

About OnWeb

OnWeb is a server-based, host integration solution that allows companies to quickly access and extend host information, applications and business processes to customers, partners and employees in the presentation format and device of their choice. Using a simple drag-and-drop environment, OnWeb allows the integration of legacy data into Web applications from an extensive range of data sources, including IBM mainframes; AS/400, UNIX, VT, Bull and Unisys systems; and major databases. Simple-to-use host publishing features enable companies to rapidly transform host screens into graphical Web pages with no programming. Companies can also integrate multiple data sources and powerful new business logic into a single user presentation.

About NetManage

Founded in 1990, NetManage, Inc. (Nasdaq:NETM), experts in host access and integration solutions, provides software and consulting services to extend and maximize a company's investment in existing legacy systems and applications. NetManage offers a full range of application integration, Web publishing and host access software for mid-size and Global 2000 enterprises. NetManage has more than 30,000 customers including 480 of the Fortune 500. NetManage sells and services its products worldwide through its direct sales force, international subsidiaries, and authorized channel partners. NetManage is headquartered in Cupertino and has offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.netmanage.com.