ATLANTA, April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Seagull Software unveiled today the LegaSuite Transformation Methodology (LTM(TM)), a software development methodology for unleashing new value from legacy application assets. Complementing the company's LegaSuite(R) middleware, LTM is a proven roadmap for liberating business processes that are trapped in mainframe, midrange and Windows applications. LTM includes step- by-step processes, supporting tools, case studies and an online project information repository. The combination of LegaSuite and LTM exponentially speeds the service-enablement of legacy applications, helping IT to provide rapid support for business change while simultaneously migrating existing systems to Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).

"Part of the reason SOA is gaining such widespread acceptance is that it's not a 'start-over' concept - SOA embraces the role and value of existing systems. However, many customers aren't exactly sure how to start the migration to SOA," said Don Addington, CEO and President for Seagull Software. "Best-of-breed products like LegaSuite are one piece of the puzzle, but they become even more powerful when they're set in the context of a proven roadmap. LTM is based on Seagull Software's considerable experience in service-enabling legacy systems for Fortune 500 companies and leading software vendors."

LTM is designed to maximize a customer's investment in the use of LegaSuite middleware to connect customers, suppliers and partners for a cohesive, more collaborative, higher-performing enterprise. The methodology is applicable to both programmatic integration and presentation integration projects, regardless of industry or application type.

"The power of LTM centers around its ability to bridge the gap between the discipline of implementing a service-oriented architecture and the art of making migratory architectural decisions where no precedent or few guidelines exist," said Andre den Haan, CIO for Seagull Software. "LTM provides a structure and clear set of processes to align IT with the business process owners; facilitating business owners' focus on the end-result and IT's responsibility for getting them there."

LTM includes four phases for which deliverables are clearly defined at the outset of a project. While these four phases will sound quite familiar, there is a key difference in the LTM approach: It assumes the material inclusion of legacy assets. "What's especially exciting about SOA and legacy liberation is that many of the core building blocks of the project are already in place - unlike greenfield development where everything you specify must be built from scratch," commented Addington.

Discovery: Like most software development methodologies, LTM is grounded in the principle that excellent requirements definition and design yield excellent projects. In addition to identifying high level requirements, Discovery includes cataloguing relevant legacy resources and their characteristics. Comprehensive discovery of requirements and existing assets assures the delivery of a predictable project on time and on budget.

Design: The Design phase focuses on identifying key business opportunities and challenges, cascading down to a conceptual system design with business process models. User groups are engaged to assure compliance with requirements and acceptance at delivery.

Liberation: During this phase, detailed design is completed and, using LegaSuite tools and middleware, new business solutions are developed and tested utilizing the organized information gathered in the first two phases.

Deployment: An approved roll-out plan guides the deployment of business solutions into the production environment, and training is conducted for the entire user community.

LTM assumes that legacy assets will be combined with each other and with new development. Therefore, it is highly compatible with and complementary to time-tested greenfield development methodologies such as Rational Unified Process, Navigator, System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and PRINCE2.

LTM's framework ensures: * Speed -- Focus on fastest time to solution, resulting in accelerated delivery and expedited benefits to customers and often a dramatic reduction in project duration and cost. * Consistency -- Managing project risk and scope to consistently achieve customer expectations through a common language, reliable delivery and high-quality training for customers. * Best Practices -- Repository of the best processes and tools to perform programmatic integration and presentation integration projects. * Flexibility -- LTM offers multiple tools and techniques to collect, store and analyze information, so it is easily tailored to fit projects of various sizes and complexities. * Extendibility -- Data orientation can readily incorporate additional tools and techniques. Compatibility with leading greenfield development methodologies. * Accessibility -- All LTM tools and deliverables are centrally located in customer-specific online repository, providing access to and measurement of the usage of common work products, and common methods for project management. * Roadmap for repeatable success - LTM lays out the customer's path for rapid, lower cost implementation of follow-on projects.

"IT organizations are challenged today to be faster, more responsive and more flexible to fulfill the needs of the business," said Don Addington. "LTM directly addresses these challenges by bringing the right solution to the right projects at the right time to maximize the benefits for the customer."

LTM is available to LegaSuite licensees through Seagull Software's worldwide professional services consulting division.

About Seagull Software

Seagull Software specializes in powering legacy-aware application development, helping organizations accelerate the delivery of business solutions. Seagull Software's LegaSuite(R) is an integrated software platform for connecting IBM mainframe, ICL, iSeries, UNIX/VT and Windows client/server applications to the Web and to other, newer-generations of applications and service-oriented architectures including XML, J2EE, .NET, HTML and Web Services. For more information, visit http://www.seagullsoftware.com/ .

Committed to providing the best customer experience, Seagull Software's technology is in use in more than 8,000 Global 2000, mid-market and public sector organizations worldwide, and by well over 2 million end users. Seagull Software has direct operations in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia, supplemented by distributors serving approximately 30 additional countries.

Forward-Looking Information: All statements in this press release which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements expressing general optimism about future operating results and non-historical information, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are, and will be, based on management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not necessarily limited to management's ability to manage growth, and hire and retain qualified employees; unpredictable customer demand; intense competition; rapid technological change; unpredictable market acceptance of new products; and market instability and/or reduction in software purchasing caused by exceptional circumstance.

CONTACT: Jenny Beers of Seagull Software, +1-404-760-1560, Ext. 2204, or
jbeers@seagullsoftware.com

Web site: http://www.seagullsoftware.com/