Software AG joins the Eclipse Foundation

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2006--Software AG, Inc. today announced that it has joined the Eclipse Foundation as an Add-in Provider member. The Eclipse Foundation is an open source community committed to the implementation of an extensible development platform for building software applications. Currently over 50% of Java developers use Eclipse and it is a key global enabler of Java technology adoption and application integration via the Rich Client Platform. This is a strategic decision for Software AG. All developer tools in crossvision, Software AG's recently announced Service-Oriented Architecture suite, will be standardized on Eclipse -providing a unified toolset for a productive user-experience. In addition, Software AG's Natural 2006 will support Eclipse, providing developers with a common development environment regardless of the tools they are using. Natural and Java developers can thereby work more efficiently toward common goals.

"We are delighted to be joining the Eclipse Foundation, and to be able to support this strategic organization," said Dr. Peter Kuerpick, Member of the Board, Software AG and responsible for the development of crossvision. "It is our strategy to provide developers with one productive, coherent development framework for all crossvision components. Eclipse is the ideal platform. More than 85% of our tools are based on Eclipse already; the full migration will be completed by the end of this year."

Software AG's expertise in SOA Management, BPM, Legacy Modernization and model-driven implementation of Web 2.0-based Composite Applications makes the company an ideal partner to help exploit the benefits of the Eclipse platform.

"Our goal at the Eclipse Foundation has been to foster an open-source community that responds to the needs of the global developer community and serves as a platform for innovation," said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. "This endorsement of Eclipse by Software AG manifests the importance and value that Eclipse provides to developers of mission-critical Enterprise-scale software."

Eclipse members can help to "bootstrap" organizations in their Eclipse-based development projects and initiatives, and can provide education, training, consulting and mentoring for development teams.

About the Eclipse Foundation

Eclipse is an open source community whose projects are focused on providing an extensible development platform and application frameworks for building software. Eclipse provides extensible tools and frameworks that span the software development lifecycle, including support for modeling, language development environments for Java, C/C++ and others, testing and performance, business intelligence, rich client applications and embedded development. A large, vibrant ecosystem of major technology vendors, innovative start-ups, universities and research institutions and individuals extend, complement and support the Eclipse Platform. The Eclipse Foundation is a not-for-profit, member-supported corporation that hosts the Eclipse projects. Full details of Eclipse and the Eclipse Foundation are available at www.eclipse.org.

About Software AG, Inc. (North America)

Software AG, Inc. is based in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area and provides enterprise-class data management and integration solutions to customers in sectors such as local, state and federal government, insurance and public retirement. Software AG, Inc.'s customers include American Fidelity Assurance Company, National Gypsum Company, The California State Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), New York City Department of Buildings, Export Development Canada and the US Export-Import Bank.

Software AG, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, provides a full range of products and services to deliver a service-oriented architecture (SOA) IT infrastructure, based on over thirty-five years experience in high-performance databases, application development tools and integration technologies. Its technology offers process driven integration through legacy modernization and SOA based integration. Software AG helps its customers to achieve a competitive advantage through flexible and adaptive business processes based on fast and easy integration of existing IT assets. It supports the mission-critical systems of over 3,000 customers globally. Software AG is represented in around 70 countries with more than 2,700 employees. It is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE 0003304002 / SOW). In 2005 Software AG posted EUR 438 million in total revenue. www.softwareag.com.

Software AG and/or all Software AG products are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Software AG. All other product and company names mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only, and may be the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.