DataDirect Technologies Announces Industry's First Data Connectivity Components for the Microsoft .NET Framework

Business Wire, Feb 13, 2002

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2002

--Provides First Support for Native Managed Providers With Upcoming

Release; Expands Relationship With Microsoft to Deliver Enterprise

Interoperability for .NET Applications--

Today at FTP's VSLive! event, DataDirect Technologies, Inc., the industry leader in connectivity components for data and applications, announced plans to support the Microsoft .NET Framework with an upcoming release of data connectivity components for Microsoft .NET. An industry first, DataDirect Connect(R) .NET is designed to help organizations access leading relational databases from the Microsoft .NET Framework and Visual Studio .NET development environment. Building on a long-term relationship with Microsoft and more than ten years of experience in data connectivity, DataDirect Technologies is able to deliver the most advanced technology for .NET connectivity, empowering early adopters of Microsoft .NET technologies with critical access to enterprise information for seamless interoperability across XML Web services.

With the Microsoft .NET Framework, data connectivity is handled by a set of classes called ADO.NET, which advances the existing ADO standard, with extended interoperability and more scalable data access. ADO.NET classes utilize components called ADO.NET managed providers to enable connectivity to a wide variety of backend data stores. Native ADO.NET managed providers, such as DataDirect Connect .NET, will provide the optimal architecture for high-performance data connectivity in .NET environments.

"Data connectivity is a core component of any application infrastructure," said John Goodson, vice president of Product Operations and Support, DataDirect Technologies. "As organizations look to work with the Microsoft .NET Framework, we believe they will want to take advantage of the many great features in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and ADO.NET. DataDirect Technologies' strategy is to focus exclusively on native ADO.NET managed providers, which communicate directly to the database using wire protocols, delivering maximum performance across a variety of data stores."

"DataDirect Technologies is at the forefront of data connectivity standards and interoperability, working with Microsoft during the development and evolution of ODBC, ADO, OLE DB and now .NET," said Ilya Bukshteyn, group program manager for the Developer and Platform Evangelism Division at Microsoft Corp. "DataDirect Technologies provides critical connectivity components across Microsoft platforms and tools like Visual Studio .NET. DataDirect Technologies' work will help bring the reliability and interoperability organizations require for building and deploying next-generation e-business applications and XML Web services."

According to industry experts, more than 85 percent of enterprise applications access or manipulate data in some form or fashion. In addition, GIGA Information Group estimates that more than 65 percent of all organizations will develop with Microsoft .NET or combinations of Microsoft .NET and Java technologies in the next two years. With a core focus on helping organizations leverage industry standards to access and integrate data across their commercial or enterprise applications, the advent of the Microsoft .NET Framework and tools for application development presents a tremendous market opportunity for DataDirect Technologies.

"With millions of developers around the world - and thousands of our customers and ISVs - relying on Microsoft tools and platforms, the Microsoft .NET platform heralds a new level of interoperability," said Brian Reed, vice president of Strategic Planning, DataDirect Technologies. "Through our relationship with Microsoft and our world-class expertise in standards such as ODBC, JDBC and ADO, Connect .NET will speed application development and help harness the great potential of the Microsoft .NET Framework and XML Web services."

The beta program for Connect .NET will begin in February 2002, with initial support for Oracle and Sybase. For more information on the beta program, please call 800/876-3101 or visit www.datadirect-technologies.com.

About DataDirect Technologies

DataDirect Technologies is the leading supplier of components for connecting data and applications that drive today's e-business and enterprise systems. DataDirect Technologies' reliable, standards-based connectivity components ensure consistent behavior and performance across diverse environments such as Java, .NET and Legacy. This helps customers to bring applications to market faster by speeding development, integration and deployment--no matter what the standard, platform, or data source. DataDirect Technologies' connectivity components are embedded in hundreds of leading commercial software products with millions of users worldwide. With over ten years experience in making evolving standards like JDBC and ODBC and emerging standards like XML reliable, and exclusive partnerships with Sun, Microsoft, IBM, and other leading vendors, DataDirect Technologies has a dedicated focus on defining the future of connecting data and applications with components that work. For more information, visit www.datadirect-technologies.com.