DataDirect Technologies and MetaMatrix Partner to Extend Benefits of Data Service Management to Mainframe Data Sources

Business Wire, Oct 31, 2006

Organizations Can Now Use MetaMatrix Enterprise to Create Data Services for Mainframe Data and Resolve Semantic Differences to Improve Business Agility and Responsiveness

BEDFORD, Mass. & WALTHAM, Mass. -- DataDirect Technologies, the unparalleled leader in data connectivity and mainframe integration and an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS) and MetaMatrix Inc., a leading provider of information management software solutions, today entered into a reseller agreement whereby MetaMatrix will embed DataDirect([R]) Shadow RTE[TM] mainframe integration technology into its family of products, extending data services management to the mainframe.

Leveraging the DataDirect Shadow RTE mainframe integration platform, MetaMatrix products can now create data services utilizing a broad range of mainframe database and application environments, including Adabas, Natural, CICS, DB2, IMS/DB and VSAM. Creating data services (rather than custom coding data manipulations into each application) enables developers to bridge semantic gaps more efficiently and create reusable modules that isolate the impact of changes in data structures. The result is a data services management system that seamlessly integrates mainframe data and existing enterprise data with the diverse new forms of data required by new projects, applications, and service-oriented architectures (SOAs).

"With the vast amount of corporate data housed in a mainframe environment, we sought a technology partnership that would help satisfy customer need for mainframe data access," said Craig Muzilla, senior vice president of marketing, MetaMatrix. "As the widely recognized leader in standards-based mainframe integration and access, the DataDirect Shadow RTE platform was an ideal candidate. Given our longstanding relationship with DataDirect and our success with their ODBC and JDBC(TM) drivers, we didn't have to look far to find a trusted integration partner with superior products and services."

The DataDirect Shadow RTE product provides developers with full, standards-based metadata support to enable direct, SQL access to mainframe data and applications utilizing industry standard ODBC, JDBC and JCA (J2EE Connector Architecture). As the leading mainframe integration software, the Shadow RTE product utilizes a proven, multi-threaded, mainframe server component to enable secure, reliable interoperability; rich monitoring and diagnostics; and the highest level of performance and scalability.

Key benefits of the integrated offering include the ability to:

* Quickly access mainframe data from disparate sources and receive the data in the form needed

* Ability to reduce application development and integration costs associated with data reconciliation

* Speed mainframe SOA deployment by resolving data access challenges and semantic differences between data sources

"MetaMatrix's decision to expand its business relationship with DataDirect points to the success of the NEON Systems acquisition and the value it has brought to our existing customer base and the market as a whole," said John Goodson, vice president of product operations at DataDirect. "Hundreds of leading software vendors like MetaMatrix depend on us for reliable, high-performance data connectivity and mainframe integration so that they can focus on their core businesses - building mission-critical applications for their customers."

About MetaMatrix

MetaMatrix, Inc. is a leading provider of information management software solutions that help large organizations make better use of their information. MetaMatrix solutions enable the timely access of disparate information form many distributed data sources, improving an organization's overall business agility and performance. Since 1998, MetaMatrix has addressed the information management challenges of some of the world's most respected corporate and government organizations including Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch, and the U.S. Department of Defense. For additional information call 800-734-1630 or visit www.metamatrix.com.

NEON Systems Now DataDirect Technologies

NEON Systems was acquired by Progress Software in January 2006 and is now part of DataDirect Technologies, an operating company of Progress Software Corporation. This acquisition of NEON Systems by DataDirect Technologies will offer customers a single, comprehensive source for data connectivity products and mainframe integration.

About DataDirect Technologies

DataDirect Technologies is the software industry's only comprehensive provider of software for connecting the world's most critical business applications to data and services, running on any platform, using proven and emerging standards. Developers worldwide depend on DataDirect([R]) products to connect their applications to an unparalleled range of data sources using standards-based interfaces such as ODBC, JDBC and ADO.NET, XQuery and SOAP. More than 300 leading independent software vendors and thousands of enterprises rely on DataDirect Technologies to simplify and streamline data connectivity for distributed systems and to reduce the complexity of mainframe integration. DataDirect Technologies is an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS). For more information, visit www.datadirect.com.