Software AG promises staggered updates for Adabas

GERMAN supplier Software AG has no plans to release an object/relational version of its Adabas database until next year, but has outlined its upgrade plans for interim releases of the product.

Erwin Koenigs, the German software supplier?s chief executive, said he does not expect the object/relational database market to take off until 1999. He believes that when it does, users will no longer find the relational model suitable for their applications.

But because the market will shift so much towards object/relational, Koenigs expects many new ?greenfield? sites as everyone switches to the technology. This, he hopes, will allow Software AG to assume a leadership position with the revamped Adabas.

The next release of the database in November will include SMP support in the Unix version, SQL access to repeating data fields and concurrent reorder capabilities.

By March it will also provide automatic hot standby for parallel sysplex-based mainframes and two-phase commit for different databases.

Software AG also confirmed that its new Java-based development tool, due next year, would be the first member of a larger family. Business Java will be written from the ground up and generate Java-based components that, the company claims, can be used in enterprise applications.

The company also said it has a good chance of turning in a net profit for its 1997 fiscal year, and was on schedule to go public by 1999.

German companies traditionally do not float on the Frankfurt stock exchange unless they have turned in profits for two successive years. According to Koenigs, Software AG ?needs to show a proven profit and a decent 1997; then we?ll get enough interest from the investment community?.

?Report by VNU Newswire.