Cleo Bolsters VersaLex Communication Options with Version 3.0

Published: February 14, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Cleo Communications recently launched a new version of VersaLex, the product at the heart of its e-business communications suite used to implement secure AS2, AS3, FTP, and HTTP messaging. With VersaLex version 3.0, the company added support for IBM's MQSeries message queues (since renamed WebSphere MQ) and for secure shell (SSH) FTP. In addition, the new release offers full implementation of Odette FTP (OFTP) over both ISDN and TCP/IP, the company says.

The addition of support for WebSphereMQ, SSH FTP, and Odette FTP brings the total number of protocols supported by VersaLex to 11, which is "an extremely significant achievement," says Andy Griffin, Cleo's VersaLex product manager. "The enhancements in VersaLex 3.0 strengthen Cleo's claim that LexiCom is unquestionably a best-in-class secure communications client, and that VLTrader is the perfect high performance, low risk decision for businesses looking to future-proof their secure communications investment."

VersaLex is a Java-based product that forms the basis for Cleo's LexiCom and VLTrader (VersaLex Trader) product offerings. LexiCom supports OS/400 (V5R2 and V5R3; V5R1 support has been "sunsetted," according to its Web site), Windows, Unix, and Linux. VLTrader does not run on OS/400. According to Rockford, Illinois-based Cleo, 5,000 instances of VersaLex are in use around the world. VersaLex also forms the technological basis for other e-business communications products developed by third-party products through Cleo's OEM business.