IBM Software Expands SOA Capabilities on System z Mainframe

IBM Software Expands SOA Capabilities on System z Mainframe

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has expanded its Customer Information Control System (CICS) software in order to enhance the capabilities of the System z platform as the computing hub for service oriented architectures (SOA). By using the world class capabilities of the mainframe to free up, connect and leverage information stored in applications through SOA implementations, companies can bring products to market faster, make quicker connections with global business partners, deliver better service to customers and streamline their information technology solutions. IBM is currently working with over 1,000 enterprises across many industries that are implementing SOA with the mainframe as a hub.

The expanded software is made available in the CICS Transaction Server for z/OS V3.2 and in associated enhancements to the CICS system management and developer tools. CICS Transaction Server is a robust transactional application server designed to execute demanding mixed-language application workloads, and to enable those applications to be easily integrated with enterprise solutions. CICS system management and developer tools are a suite of tools that help leverage and transform existing CICS applications. The expanded software capabilities announced today are in the three key areas of application connectivity, application reuse and service management.

“Mainframes are finding second careers as the hub for SOA,” said James Stallings, general manager for IBM System z. “Because as much as 80% of the corporate data and core application functionality that will be turned into services already resides on mainframe computers, companies are increasingly integrating a services-oriented approach to software with the proven capabilities of the System z platform.”

Companies of all sizes are adopting an SOA strategy to more closely align their information technology (IT) assets with the goals of the business. To successfully reap the rewards of an SOA requires a flexible IT environment that allows an organization to streamline business processes, break down silos of information, and easily integrate new technologies such as those anticipated for “Web 2.0.” This flexibility can be delivered through the use and reuse of existing IT offerings regardless of the source code, application or platform. Using IBM transaction processing software products such as CICS, and IBM integration middleware products such as WebSphere on a mainframe can help companies accelerate the creation of an SOA while at the same time extending their investments in core systems.

Read the complete Press Release