Micro Focus is working with Microsoft to migrate users and applications from legacy mainframe systems onto Windows-based servers.

The Cobol specialist claims costs can be cut by as much as fifty per cent by moving applications from ageing mainframes to Intel-based servers. It says customers have also reported better performance from the move.

Micro Focus Enterprise Server allows migration of CICS/COBOL applications to be shifted to a Windows environment. Once moved applications can be extended more easily through .NET, SQL Server, XML and Web services, according (http://www.microfocus.com/press/releases/20040408.asp) to the company.

Gary Barnett, IT research director at Ovum, said companies increasingly want to re-use existing mainframe applications. He said the MS-Microfocus alliance will help enterprise users take a "more cost-effective and reliable approach to the task of migrating applications to the Windows platform than the expensive and risk-prone 'rip-and-replace' approach that was the vogue in the late 1990s". ®

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