By Simon Hodgson
New York-based Popkin Software & Systems Inc has started shipping its enterprise modeling tool System Architect 2001, five months after it intended (CI No 3,589). Maybe we underestimated the amount of testing, says Mark McGregor, vice president of business strategy. The company says it has also used the time to upgrade to version 1.3 of the Object Management Group’s unified modeling language (UML) standard and Systems Architect 2001 that will also include business process modeling capabilities. UML 1.3 is the first cleaned-up version of the UML according to Mike Budd, senior consultant at Ovum Inc describes.
Popkin plans to expand the potential user base for its modeling tools by working on an educational element to its product suite that will make it more accessible to business executives. The company is also keen to exploit what it sees as a gap in the market created by Computer Associates’ recent acquisition of Platinum (CI No 3,629). According to McGregor, CA still hasn’t decided what to do with the Platinum ErWin modeling tool, while another potential rival, Sterling, is also taking its time digesting its acquisitions of Cayenne and TI Software. There is an opportunity for us to expand while others are sorting out what it is they want to do, says McGregor.
