• Magic Updates RIA Framework with .NET Client

  December 9, 2008 Alex Woodie

  Magic Software last week unveiled uniPaaS version 1.5, an updated version of its framework for developing next-generation Web applications. The release brings a new .NET client that should make it easier for developers to deliver advanced Web-based functionality on Windows devices, as well as a new connector for upgrading older Magic technologies, such as its 4GL eDeveloper platform, to the new uniPaaS framework. Unveiled earlier this year as G5, uniPaaS is Magic’s flagship offering for developing rich Internet applications (RIAs) utilizing Web 2.0 techniques and the software as a service (SaaS) delivery mechanism, such as mobile, field service, supply

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• Infor Revives Infinium Brand for Casino Business

  December 9, 2008 Alex Woodie

  Before SSA bought a struggling Infinium Software in 2003, Infinium, along with its System 2000 line of ERP software, was one of the most well-known brands in the AS/400 market. For several years, we didn’t hear much out of the Massachusetts outfit, as the software line took on new names and was overshadowed by competing SSA solutions. Last month, Infor–the company that subsequently purchased SSA–revived the Infinium brand once again with two announcements related to the casino industry. Infinium has always had a strong market in the casino industry, which is very heavily populated with System i machines, particularly with

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• Mobile Banking Application Proving Very Popular, Jack Henry Says

  December 9, 2008 Alex Woodie

  These are tough economic times, to be sure. But if there’s one bright spot in the forecast for the IT industry, it’s the surging interest in mobile computing. To that end, Jack Henry & Associates announced that its browser-based mobile banking application, whimsically called goDough, has been successfully adopted by more than 100 customers over the last 12 months, enabling its customers’ customers to check dwindling account balances with unparalleled ease. Unveiled in November 2007, goDough enables customers of banks and credit unions that use Jack Henry’s core banking software to do many of the things they would do in

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• Innovative Upgrades Trucking Software for i 6.1, New Tax Laws

  December 9, 2008 Alex Woodie

  i OS trucking software developer Innovative Computing is ready. Ready for IBM i 6.1 and ready for the new laws governing electronic transmission of tax information to the IRS. The Oklahoma company is also gearing up for a new release of Innovative Enterprise Software (IES)in ’09. To support i 6.1, Innovative last month unveiled IES R8V02M03. The new version brings certification for I 6.1 as well as changes needed to support the latest operating system. The new version also brings changes to handling of W2 and 1099 forms. As of December 1, the IRS is requiring companies to phase out

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• DataDirect Supports i 6.1 with .NET Data Provider

  December 9, 2008 Alex Woodie

  Organizations that are looking to hook up their .NET applications to DB2/400 data sources may be interested to hear that DataDirect Technologies‘ ADO.NET data provider is now certified for IBM i 6.1, the latest release of the OS/400 operating system. DataDirect Technologies develops database drivers that connect applications to the world’s major database management systems. The company focuses on integrating mainframe applications via ODBC, JDBC, ADO.NET, and custom drivers, although it also supports IBM’s System i and System p operating environments. Yesterday, the Massachusetts company announced a new release of DataDirect Connect for ADO.NET that supports i 6.1. The

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• Indonesian Bank Picks MIMIX for HA

  December 9, 2008 Alex Woodie

  Bank Sumsel, the Indonesian bank owned by the South Sumatra and Bangka Belitung provinces, has opted to use Vision Solutions‘ MIMIX HA high availability software to guard its System i servers against downtime, the software vendor announced last week. With more than 500,000 customers, dozens of branches across the country, and an online banking division, Bank Sumsel is one of Indonesia’s largest banks. Not surprisingly, the bank, which has assets of more than six trillion Indonesian Rupiah (about $500 million), relies upon the bullet-proof IBM midrange server to run its core banking applications from Misys and other vendors. With

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• Zephyr Targets Client Access with Replacement Program

  December 9, 2008 Alex Woodie

  Zephyr Development is conducting a Client Access replacement campaign to try to convince AS/400, iSeries, i5, System i, and Power Systems shops to drop the IBM 5250 emulator and instead use a less-expensive emulator: Zephyr’s PASSPORT. Texas-based Zephyr traditionally focuses on mainframe emulation solutions, but it occasionally touts its System i (AS/400) solutions, such as it has done this fall with its new Client Access replacement campaign. Zephyr’s argument hinges on the high price of Client Access and the lack of pricing transparency. “Client Access has often been perceived as being ‘free of charge’ or even a compulsory part of

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• Soltis Exiting IBM, But He’s Not Leaving the ‘400

  December 8, 2008 Alex Woodie

  This New Year’s Eve, three weeks from now, AS/400 fans around the world will raise a glass and say a toast to Frank Soltis, who is set to retire from IBM after an incredible career spanning five decades. And while there will be some mixing of tears and champagne–especially upon the frozen tundra of the Rochester campus–you don’t have to say your goodbyes just yet. Soltis aims to remain active in the System i community, as he explains to The Four Hundred in this exclusive one-on-one interview. Alex Woodie: So you’re leaving at the end of the month. That

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• A Little More Detail on the Smart Cube and Its Market

  December 8, 2008 Timothy Prickett Morgan

  In last week’s issue, I told you that IBM has launched the Smart Cube appliance server and its related Smart Market for distributing systems and application software, in India rather than the United States. There wasn’t a lot of detail about the Power and X64 boxes that are being configured as Smart Cube appliances, since IBM is really just doing a test rollout in India now and, very quietly, with selected customers in America to get feedback on how to make it all better before a full rollout in the States later in 2009. The Smart Cube server appliances,

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• IBM’s Academic Initiative Partners with DeVry University

  December 8, 2008 Dan Burger

  With more than 65,000 students enrolled at nearly 100 locations in 26 states and Canada, DeVry University qualifies as one of the largest degree-granting higher education institutions in North America. So, for IBM to get its Academic Initiative program plugged into DeVry, there is reason to celebrate. Beginning in March 2009, students aiming for bachelor’s degrees in computer information systems have the option of taking enterprise business computing courses that will incorporate IBM i, AIX, and z/OS coursework. DeVry University is the first educational institution to incorporate multiple IBM Systems technologies into a single degree program track. As is the

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