DataDirect Technologies Releases DataDirect OpenAccess 6.0 for Standards-Based Data Access to Specialized Data Sources and Applications

Business Wire, June 9, 2008

Significant Product Enhancements Improve Performance and Enterprise Functionality for Custom ODBC, JDBC[TM], OLE DB Drivers and ADO.NET Data Providers

BEDFORD, Mass. -- DataDirect Technologies, the unparalleled leader in data connectivity and mainframe integration and an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS), today announced the availability of version 6.0 of the DataDirect([R]) OpenAccess[TM] software development kit (SDK). The latest release of the custom driver development kit features DataDirect Technologies' driver technology and contains enterprise-class functionality including support for 64-bit operating systems, enhanced security features and SQL engine enhancements for improved performance.

The DataDirect OpenAccess SDK and runtime software components enable software developers and architects to quickly create custom drivers for any data source within weeks, making proprietary data sources, file formats or APIs, SQL accessible from ODBC, JDBC[TM], OLE DB or ADO.NET compliant applications. The DataDirect OpenAccess SDK can also be used to add standards-based connectivity on top of an existing SQL engine or to customize an existing driver.

For the first time, users of the OpenAccess SDK benefit from DataDirect Technologies' core driver technology contained in its market-leading DataDirect Connect([R]) family of drivers and data providers for relational databases. Version 6.0 boasts a 100 percent Java[TM] JDBC driver and offers an ADO.NET data provider with 100 percent managed code for a scalable and secure connection.

Like all products from DataDirect Technologies, the DataDirect OpenAccess SDK supports the latest operating systems and is compliant with data access specifications including ODBC 3.5.2 for 32-bit and 64-bit computing, JDBC 3.0 Type 4 for 32-bit and 64-bit database drivers and ADO.NET data providers. With security features such as data encryption and Kerberos authentication, the DataDirect OpenAccess SDK protects information assets and the overall security posture of the application environment.

"More than 100 ISVs and corporations have used the DataDirect OpenAccess SDK to achieve standards-based access to proprietary APIs and data formats quickly and cost effectively," said Dipak Patel, senior director of development for OpenAccess at DataDirect Technologies. "DataDirect OpenAccess SDK version 6.0 builds on the company's standards-based data connectivity leadership, product depth and technical innovation to provide a faster, better performing, enterprise-class product."

"By working with DataDirect Technologies and using our HP Database Archiving software, customers can store data as XML for long-term compliance and satisfy e-discovery requests," said Kevin O'Malley, product marketing manager for database archiving, Information Management Software, HP. "Users now have SQL access to transactional data stored in XML, further extending the value proposition of an open, standards-built archive."

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(TM) 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.

DataDirect, DataDirect Connect and OpenAccess are trademarks or registered trademarks of DataDirect Technologies Corp. in the U.S. and other countries. Java and all Java based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.