CROSS ACCESS Introduces SERIESfour; Offers Native, Fast, Scalable Legacy Data Connectivity For Data Marts, ERP Applications.

Standardizes Access to Mainframe Non-Relational Data for Rapid Implementation

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies implementing data marts or enterprise resource management (ERP) applications now have the means to natively access, connect and migrate data from legacy mainframe databases in a faster, easier and more efficient manner than ever before.

CROSS ACCESS Corporation today announced the introduction of CrossAccess SERIESfour(TM), middleware that enables the connecting of non-relational data and metadata from mainframe environments with distributed systems, without the need for and added expense of COBOL-trained programmers. With 70% of today's business-critical data residing on mainframes, the need to integrate this data with IT initiatives like data marts and ERP applications has never been greater. SERIESfour sets a new standard in native data connectivity, providing unparalleled performance and true enterprise scalability.

"People need to obtain insights from the enormous legacy data stored on VSE, MVS and OS/390 mainframes. CrossAccess SERIESfour makes accessing that data and its associated metadata practical in a cost-effective and timely manner," said CROSS ACCESS President and Chief Operating Officer George Langan. "The ability to quickly move that data into a data mart or a new ERP application's databases is crucial to businesses which depend on information as a competitive asset. With the built-in speed of SERIESfour, people can migrate data far more quickly and at far less cost," Langan added.

With CrossAccess, users transparently access their disparate mainframe data stores, then use CrossAccess' mapping and translation abilities to forward both the data and metadata into common desktop applications, data mart tools or a LAN-based relational database without mainframe programming. CrossAccess makes it possible for business users to natively access critical data resources with leading applications, ranging from Microsoft(R) Office to high-powered decision support tools like Impromptu and Business Objects.

"CrossAccess is enabling us to efficiently migrate data from our legacy databases into our newly-developed data mart," said Roger Peterson, Vice President, IS, at Kawasaki Motors Corporation, U.S.A. "It works quickly and lets us get the data we need to make the project a success. It is saving us time and money, and is doing what it is supposed to do. You can't ask more than that."

Similar praise for SERIESfour also came from Areiel Wolanow, Principal at Data Movement Research, and former manager of consulting services at SmartDB Corporation. "Companies implementing enterprise packages, such as SAP(R) R/3(R), face the challenge of moving huge blocks of legacy data in a short time to gain the maximum result from their investments. CrossAccess SERIESfour(TM) demonstrates the promise of simplifying that process, minimizing the pain of migration and allowing companies to meet their most stringent deadlines," Wolanow said.

CrossAccess enables data analysts to directly connect widely used data warehousing tools like the Sagent Data Mart Solution or Prism Executive Suite with mainframe data stores, critical to populating a data mart. And developers implementing packaged applications can rapidly migrate legacy data into the new application's databases without coding complex 3GL applications (as evidenced by the Oracle and SAP certification of CrossAccess).

Speed is a key benefit of SERIESfour. CrossAccess customers have routinely found themselves amazed at the speed of initial implementation, typically taking less than two hours. Once CrossAccess is up and running, companies also report sub-second response to queries involving disparate databases, meaning access to information in a fraction of the time it takes using other solutions.

CrossAccess SERIESfour includes an entire suite of products, including Cross Access' DataMapper(TM), which automates the mapping of non-relational data structures to logical relational tables, while maintaining the structural integrity of the underlying file or database.

CrossAccess SERIESfour also integrates with hundreds of ODBC compliant tools, including IBM's DataJoiner(TM), which enables users to join and access data from various sources on multiple platforms; Sagent's Data Mart Suite, which enables the definition, creation and distribution of data marts; Impromptu, Brio Query and Business Objects, which provide powerful data query and analysis for decision support; and PowerBuilder and Visual Basic, which enable complex client/server and Internet application development. Pricing for CrossAccess SERIESfour begins at $30,000, with volume discounts available.

About CROSS ACCESS Corporation

CROSS ACCESS (www.crossaccess.com) is dedicated to providing plug-&-play connectivity between the mainframe data that dominates the Fortune 1000 technology landscape and the modern IT initiatives that are dramatically improving corporate capabilities. CROSS ACCESS core technology seamlessly integrates legacy data with IT initiatives that include data warehousing, ERP data migrations, decision support and client/server and Internet applications.

CROSS ACCESS is a recognized leader in connecting mainframe non-relational and relational data with the enterprise and is the OEM provider of VSAM and IMS data access technology for IBM's DataJoiner. CROSS ACCESS is a privately held company whose customers include financial, healthcare, retailing, manufacturing, services, government and educational institutions. It maintains strategic relationships with IBM, Sybase, Oracle, Informix, Netscape, Cognos and other database and tool vendors. More information is available by contacting CROSS ACCESS at 408-735-7545.

CrossAccess, SERIESfour, DataMapper and DataJoiner and all other CrossAccess product or service names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of CROSS ACCESS Corporation. All other company or product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.