IBM Expands Information Management Software Portfolio and Increases Technology R&D Investment; New Products and Technology Innovations Enhance Information Integration Customer Value

Business Wire, May 4, 2005

WESTBORO, Mass. -- IBM today announced new software and investments in research and development to help customers and developers leverage information on demand by effectively integrating, analyzing and managing their business data, no matter where it is stored. The offerings include new technologies and assets immediately incorporated into IBM's portfolio following completion of the acquisition of Ascential Software, a leading provider of enterprise data integration software.

The software technologies and investments unveiled today include:

--Expanded IBM information integration product roadmap that features the next generation WebSphere Data Integration Suite (code-named "Hawk" by Ascential). IBM plans to deliver the "Hawk" software platform to customers this year, as part of the company's next generation WebSphere Information Integration solutions portfolio.

--Expansion of worldwide information integration research and development resources to accelerate the delivery of next-generation information integration software.

--Introduction of a new Federated Records Management software solution designed to reduce complexity and usher in a new age of automated electronic records management across the enterprise.

With these advancements, IBM is expanding its fast-growing information integration business, which is central to the company's information on-demand efforts.

"Customers want immediate access to the business information they need, in the form they want, and whenever they need it. We call this information on demand," said Janet Perna, general manager, IBM Information Management. "We're adding advanced technologies from acquisitions such as Ascential Software and new technologies from our research labs for information integration and content management to deliver to our customers a flexible and integrated infrastructure that delivers accurate, consistent and timely information."

End-to-End Information Integration

IBM's commitment to delivering the next-generation WebSphere Data Integration Suite provides a crucial foundation for IBM's unified information integration platform moving forward. The new release of the platform (code named "Hawk") is focused on massive simplification of data integration. It provides a unified platform for information analysis (understanding source data), data cleansing (ensuring data quality), data transformation, and metadata management. It also introduces breakthrough productivity benefits for individuals and teams who manage, administer, and develop in the environment. Customers worldwide currently use this software to build enterprise data warehouses, power business intelligence systems, consolidate enterprise applications, create and manage master repositories of critical business information, and enable on demand data access.

An open customer beta test program of the WebSphere Data Integration Suite will be launched in the second quarter of 2005.

Bolstering Research and Development

As part of its increased research and development investment, IBM will expand former Ascential research and development centers located in Westboro, Mass., Boca Raton, Fla., Secunderaband, India and Middlesex, England, with additional resources, including developers and software engineers, to meet the complete information integration needs of customers. The expanded centers will be used to help customers more rapidly test, assess and integrate IBM's information integration software, including the WebSphere Data Integration Suite. Development work at the expanded centers also will support the creation of software technologies that enable IBM's continued leadership in key on demand initiatives such as business performance management, multi-channel commerce, RFID, merger and acquisition consolidation and master data management.

Enterprise-wide Records Management Solution

IBM's new Federated Records Management solution combines IBM DB2 Records Manager and IBM WebSphere Information Integrator Content Edition to seamlessly and centrally manage recordkeeping policies for all distributed content throughout an organization, no matter where records are stored and managed. With Federated Records Management, records can be automatically declared, classified and managed throughout their lifecycle from virtually any end-user application or interface. This helps clients reduce the complexity and speed the time to effectively control multiple isolated repositories of unstructured data while helping address global compliance issues, and reducing costs associated with recordkeeping, and maintaining greater control over the information handling procedures. This solution works to seamlessly apply records management to content stored across FileNet, EMC Documentum, OpenText, IBM DB2 Content Manager, and an array of other content management systems.

More information about IBM's Information Management software and solutions is available at: www.ibm.com/software/data.> About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com