Micro Focus to Ease Mainframe Migration with Batch Support for Job Control Language; Early Adopter Program now available for Micro Focus Enterprise Server for Windows

Business Wire, Oct 19, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Micro Focus International Ltd. (Micro Focus(R)) today announced that it has begun an Early Adopter Program (EAP) for Job Control Language (JCL) batch support for its Enterprise Server product running on Windows. With this new support, using the Mainframe Transaction Option within Enterprise Server, customers will be able to run IBM z/OS and VSE JCL batch script on Windows without the need to convert it to other formats. This will significantly improve the time and effort needed to migrate critical applications that run batch processing from the mainframe to the more open and extensible Windows platform.

By adding JCL batch support, Micro Focus is adding an important element to its 'Lift and Shift' approach to legacy migration. 'Lift and Shift' allows customers to retain the inherent value built into legacy applications by reusing critical business code and moving it to contemporary platforms such as Windows. With so many mainframe applications relying on batch processing, this support will allow customers to further realize reduced costs and risk associated with the 'Lift and Shift' approach.

"We have already seen the benefits of 'Lift and Shift' as a proven method to deliver substantial cost savings for our customers by migrating COBOL and CICS applications from the mainframe," said Hal Peters, president of Pinebrook Consulting. "JCL is often a critical part of mainframe applications, and this additional support from Micro Focus to reuse both z/OS and VSE JCL without conversion will be a definite time saver for anyone looking to move application workload off the mainframe."

"Batch processing is a major element in many mainframe systems," said Ian Archbell, vice president of product management at Micro Focus. "The addition of both VSE and z/OS JCL support to Enterprise Server with Mainframe Transaction Option is a significant enhancement to the support to 'Lift and Shift' mainframe applications to contemporary platforms."

The JCL EAP is now available to selected customers and partners on Windows and will be followed in the new year by a similar program for major UNIX and Linux platforms. For more information on the EAP, please contact Micro Focus.

About Micro Focus

Micro Focus is the leading provider of legacy application development and deployment software for contemporary platforms. Micro Focus enables organizations to unlock the value of their legacy by reusing their business-critical assets with .NET, Java, XML and Web services, resulting in reduced costs, increased agility and minimal risk. Founded in 1976, Micro Focus is a global company with principal offices in the United Kingdom, United States and Japan. For more information, visit www.microfocus.com.

Micro Focus is a registered trademark of Micro Focus International, Ltd. All other products mentioned in this announcement are trademarks of their respective owners.