NEON Delivers Latest Version of zPrime(TM) With zPrime Companies Can Slash Mainframe Costs, Avoid Overage Penalties and Defer Upgrades

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Nov 05, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- NEON Enterprise Software today announced the immediate availability of NEON zPrime 1.2, the latest version of the company's innovative software product that drastically reduces mainframe costs. With zPrime, organizations can easily and automatically offload massive amounts of work from IBM System z central processors (CPs) to IBM specialty processors, which run as fast as CPs, but cost much less. By shifting large workloads to low-cost specialty processors, companies can carve millions of dollars from IT budgets.

From Rigorous Testing to Rapid Adoption Since zPrime's initial release in June, nearly 50 organizations around the world -- including some of the world's largest corporations -- have extensively tested, documented and validated the tremendous cost savings that zPrime provides. On average, these companies have been able to safely offload: -- 90% of Information Management System (IMS) application processing -- 90% of batch application processing -- 80% of DB2 application processing -- 75% of TSO/ISPF application processing -- 45% of Customer Information Control System (CICS) application to IBM System z Integrated Information Processors (zIIPs) and z Application Assist Processors (zAAPs) -- without any additional hardware or software changes.

In fact, 14 companies are now in production with zPrime, using it to offload business-critical applications and programs to zIIPs and zAAPs.

"This incredibly rapid adoption reflects how much companies -- and how many of them -- want to reduce the high costs of mainframe computing, and NEON is committed to helping them do that," said NEON Chairman and CEO Lacy H. Edwards.

Latest zPrime Enhancements zPrime version 1.2 simplifies and streamlines the offloading of programs and applications to specialty processors, while providing greater control in selecting which application workloads are shifted to those processors.

A new Enablement Console allows mainframe users to select the applications and programs they want to make eligible for processing on zIIPs and zAAPs. The console gives users the control they need to ensure work is shifted to specialty processors during the critical and costly peak periods.

The Language Environment (LE) Initialization Exit automates the enablement of all LE-compliant applications. Since the majority of mainframe legacy applications are LE-compliant, the exit simplifies how users make these core business applications eligible for processing on low-cost zIIPs and zAAPs.

"zPrime can safely and significantly reduce IT costs while optimizing legacy application investments. It does so without sacrificing functionality or disrupting mainframe environments in any way," said Richard Ptak, principal and analyst at Ptak, Noel and Associates. "The innovative features in zPrime make it even easier for organizations to benefit from the significant cost savings to be achieved by taking advantage of specialty processor capacity." Facts about zPrime zPrime is a proprietary software product that enables IBM System z business application workloads -- IMS, DB2, CICS, TSO/ISPF and batch -- to run on IBM's equally fast, lower-cost zIIP or zAAP specialty processors. Rigorous testing conducted by nearly 50 organizations has repeatedly validated that zPrime can save System z mainframe users 20 percent or more of their annual mainframe costs under conventional use pricing structures. For detailed information about zPrime, including how it legally gives mainframe users more control over IT investments while substantially reducing mainframe costs, visit www.neon.com.

About NEON Enterprise Software NEON Enterprise Software is a privately-held company based in Sugar Land, Texas that provides innovative mainframe software solutions to the world's largest corporations. NEON solutions work to dramatically lower the cost of mainframe computing, and they enable organizations to take control of the IT resources vital to their business success. For more information about NEON and zPrime, visit our new website at www.neon.com or contact us at 888.338.6366 or +1 281.491.6366.

The NEON Enterprise Software logo and zPrime are trademarks of NEON Enterprise Software in the USA and in other select countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: NEON Enterprise Software CONTACT: Media Relations: NEON Enterprise Software Robin Reddick, 281-207-4989 [e-mail] or For NEON Enterprise Software Kathleen O'Boyle, 415-407-8308 Corporate Communications [e-mail] Copyright Business Wire 2009 -0- KEYWORD: United States

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