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Neon, Software AG in connector deal; Shadow is unbundled

This week, Neon Systems Inc. (http://www.neonsys.com) and Software AG Inc. (http://www.softwareag.com) entered into a marketing agreement that may help to speed data access performance for Adabas, as well as other mainframe data and transaction sources.

The move follows Neon's announcement earlier this year of ShadowConnect, an unbundled 'per-application' version of the company's Shadow mainframe integration connector suite.

Neon's technology is posed as an alternative to general-purpose mainframe integration connectors, many of which of late have come out of the Java server milieu. In some cases, noted Neon Senior VP Mark Cresswell, use of application servers with mainframes can require developers to pursue complicated workarounds that may still result in degraded mainframe performance.

Despite this, Cresswell indicates that Neon has found a type of 'co-opitition' in its dealings with Java app server makers. The company's products are certified for BEA WebLogic integration, he noted. As well, other such connections are rolling out of Sugarland, Texas-based Neon's labs.

The Neon-Software AG move marks a trend. As XML, Linux and Java alter the mainframe landscape, users and software vendors will look for faster, less-general connections in certain speed-sensitive applications.

About the Author

Jack Vaughan is former Editor-at-Large at Application Development Trends magazine.