Simware Inc of Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian developer of software to enable communication between personal computers and mainframes whether using an emulator board or dial-up software, has released three products and announced plans to develop one other. The company aims to produce interfaces so a user has mainframe access whilst maintaining the same local user environment and without changing the host software, so that it will not be necessary to learn a new system as the screen and the commands will remain the same. SimMac 3.0, to be released next month, is a communications package enabling users to retain a Macintosh interface whilst accessing IBM 3270 applications and so insulating the workstation user from the complicated mainframe environment. SimHLLAPI is a High-Level Language Application Programming Interface working across various communication paths such as co-ax boards, local network gateways and asynchronous networks to provide access to mainframe applications so personal computers emulating IBM 3270s can process information whilst keeping their original interface, and then down-load it to the host enabling effective distribution of work. SimPC 5.0, IBM Systems Application Architecture- and Common User Access-compatible, gives 3270 emulation on the personal computer by translating user commands to enable recognition by the 3270 application and communications protocols for data communication. This can be tailored to the company’s own needs in-house or by Simware. Mainframe to micro response time has been improved by as much as 600% in some cases by SplitSecond which is aimed at users using dial-up, 1,200 or 2,400 bps modems or X25 packet-switched network users.
Patent applied for
Simware believes this concept provides a cost and time-effective solution for asynchronous communications and it has applied for a patent on it. One major US customer expects the saving in communications to pay for the software within a year. The product increases performance by reducing the amount of data transmitted by as much as 97%. Simware, a seven-year old company, has approximately 130 employees based in Canada and eight at the UK base in Reading. It also sells to on the continent and in Asia via distributors. It claims a customer base of over 1,000 blue-chip companies including the British Telecommunications Plc and British Petroleum Plc here and is involved in joint development projects with IBM and Apple Computer. Prices are per personal computer-user and are approximately UKP200 for the SplitSecond and UKP250 for the SimPC, the cost for SimMac will be announced on its release. There are discounts for bulk buyers.
