Pixel Unleashes Non-invasive Web Enablement of Any Green Screen Application.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2000

Easily Transforms Legacy Investments into Strategic E-business Assets

Leveraging 13 years of experience providing host connectivity solutions throughout the world, the Pixel Group has released HostAccess Gateway(TM), a unique integrated Host-2-web solution for Web Enabling ANY host based legacy application.

This integrated solution utilizes the latest in scalable server-based technology to integrate any host application's business logic and data with e-business initiatives in a fraction of the time and cost previously required. HostAccess Gateway fulfills both the immediate and long-term requirements of tens of thousands of organizations that still rely on their legacy systems by providing a seamless non-invasive approach for implementing their e-business strategies. HostAccess Gateway has already been adopted by a number of well-known organizations on both sides of the Atlantic.

"An integrated server-based solution like HostAccess Gateway for web enabling both non-IBM as well as IBM mainframe/host systems is long over due," explained the Pixel Group's CEO, Francis Carden. "The non-IBM segment represents just under half of the total mainframe/host marketplace and we are extremely excited about the response we are getting to this much needed technology. We have been pleasantly surprised how many organizations are extremely interested in our technology because they depend on a variety of host systems and can now utilize one technology to web enable all of their disparate systems. We have now made it much easier, faster and more cost effective for both IBM and non-IBM environments to transform their legacy investments into strategic components of their web initiatives."

There are three important features that differentiate HostAccess Gateway from existing products in the marketplace. First, HostAccess Gateway draws from the Pixel Group's 13 years of unrivalled expertise in terminal emulation technology to provide a solution with the ability to work with any type of host based environment and terminal emulation. Unlike other Web-enabling solutions that are limited to only 3270 and 5250 emulations, HostAccess Gateway additionally supports virtually all other commonly adopted host emulations, including HP, Wyse, DEC VT, ANSI, Qume, Tandem, IBM, Prism, Televideo, Viewdata, Videotext and many more. Of particular importance is the ability to simultaneously access information from multiple hosts of different manufacturers. This unique ability has significant appeal to a broad spectrum of market sectors including Health Care, Government, Finance, Retail, Technology, Insurance, B2B, B2E and B2C where information contained in many disparate systems needs to be integrated.

Second, HostAccess Gateway utilizes the latest in server technology to deliver state-of-the-art server-based connectivity, emulation and screen scraping that is extremely fast, reliable and flexible. At the heart of the HostAccess Gateway suite is the HostAccess Server (TM), which connects to the host applications and manages all of the Green-Screen interfaces. This delivers any of the information stored in the host applications through XML or COM data objects for use in any development environment for creating new composite applications. This approach allows for the integration of real time legacy data with Web pages, WAP Devices, VB, C++ or other RAD tools. Unlike many solutions available, no client software to administer or maintain is required for this elegant server-based solution.

And finally, implementing the HostAccess Gateway solution has been greatly simplified by providing a sophisticated interface definition tool, Application Navigator(TM), to allow non-development staff to easily build a map of the screen areas that contain the important data and define the important navigational sequences for moving around those screens. New composite Web applications can be built quickly using the data from one or many screens and ASP pages can be automatically generated from the map defined by Application Navigator. The process is very easy to learn and completed in minutes. HostAccess Gateway requires no coding or programming modifications to the Host application.

"For most organizations, a non-invasive approach to extending their legacy assets is the only acceptable way forward," continued Carden. "Organizations throughout the world have invested hundreds of man years in their legacy applications and, in many cases, rewriting them is not a viable alternative. Even trying to directly access the data files via an alternative like ODBC is limited because much of the development effort is in the business logic of the applications and not the data alone. Our solution provides an easy way to non-invasively extend the use of both the business logic and the data to a variety of web and e-business applications at a fraction of the time and cost."

Founded in 1988, Pixel is a worldwide provider of Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) solutions allowing organizations to extend the reach and life of their business critical host based legacy systems. Pixel's proven HostAccess(R) solutions allow customers to rapidly and non-invasively solve all of their e-business requirements including web enabling, wireless deployment, rejuvenation, extension and remodeling for every different type of legacy system in use today. Pixel's innovative technology allows rapid integration of legacy applications with practical e-business solutions reducing time to market, shortening lead times, lowering operating costs, and increasing customer satisfaction. Pixel has licensed over 1.3 million copies of connectivity software to organizations in over 50 countries throughout the world. Pixel sells its products, consulting and support services globally both directly and through a worldwide partner program.

For more information on Pixel or to arrange a demonstration, please visit www.hostaccess.com where Enterprise Application Integration just took a leap into the 21st Century.

HostAccess is a registered trademark of Pixel USA, Inc.