Ascential Software Corporation announced version 7.5 of the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite(TM) at The Data Warehousing Institute's (TDWI) World Conference in Boston. The latest version of the enterprise data integration leader's comprehensive, end-to-end product suite is a key milestone achievement in the company's roadmap to reinvent the way enterprises approach integration initiatives. The suite provides the industry's broadest and most robust data integration solution, and is the only single-vendor offering that stands up to the stringent requirements of enterprise architects for scalability, productivity and extensibility. "By offering a complete suite of data integration solutions within a single, shared platform, Ascential Software continues to respond to the industry's call for a single vendor solution that will stand up to the requirements of today's complex enterprise architectures," said Steve McClure, a research vice president in IDC's Software Research Group. "An increasing number of businesses want to standardize on a single data integration technology to address all of their data integration challenges regardless of volume, velocity, or variety." Version 7.5 delivers significant enhancements to the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite, helping to improve ease-of-use, extend SOA capabilities to Ascential DataStage(TM) TX, enhance interoperability, and broaden meta data management. The suite increases the value businesses can derive from their data and delivers on Ascential Software's commitment to provide reliable, comprehensive solutions consisting of powerful components that function independently or in unison as part of an integrated suite. "When BNP and Paribas merged four years ago, our goal was to build the most comprehensive and progressive STP-compliant information system in the asset management business and Ascential Software has helped us achieve that goal," said Alexandre Karras, CIO for BNP Paribas Asset Management. "We've leveraged Ascential DataStage TX as a core component of our global information architecture (front office, risk management, sales, marketing, middle, and back offices, among others), and we're working with Ascential Software as we develop our enterprise data integration strategy for the future. The launch of the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.5 demonstrates Ascential Software's commitment to continuous technological leadership, and gives us confidence in our investment in the company." What's New -- The Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.5 is designed to deliver the industry's most comprehensive common services platform that can provide customers and partners with the best solutions for integrating data across transactional, operational, and analytical applications and business processes. Enhanced real-time performance helps users create an on-demand view of customer data, validate data in-flight, and share meta data across the enterprise. -- The suite features enhanced interoperability between Ascential DataStage TX, Ascential DataStage(TM), Ascential QualityStage(TM) and Ascential RTI(TM). This makes it easier for businesses to integrate and cleanse data from highly complex data sources. -- In version 7.5, Ascential Software offers improved fault tolerance and high availability 24x7 operation through Ascential RTI clustering support for Oracle, DB2, and SQLServer. This reduces the project risk by eliminating a single point of failure. -- The Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.5 introduces Mobile Services for Ascential RTI. This powerful capability enables enterprise customers to leverage data integration services from a mobile device, bringing new levels of simplicity and availability to data integration for mobile applications. Ascential Software has proven this capability through the incorporation of RTI Mobile Director in 7.5, enabling remote administration of DataStage from any pocket PC. -- Ascential Software is extending its already strong commitment to partners with enhancements including new support for 64 bit Itanium-2 based HP Integrity servers running HP-UX 11i v2. Suite users also gain improved flexibility with broader connectivity to mainstream ERP and CRM applications. Additional certifications for Oracle 10g, Teradata V2R5.1 and SAP are available with this release. A new packaged application connectivity kit for SAP XI is also being released with Version 7.5. -- Other platform features that extend the usability, productivity and scalability of the Suite include enhanced reporting across the Suite, a new job sequencer, real time job validation, and performance visualization and monitoring interfaces. Additionally, updated support for HIPAA and EDIFACT standards ease compliance-related projects. "Data integration is one of the most important issues facing businesses today because it is the enabling factor for almost any course of action, from mergers and acquisitions to improving customer relationship management," said Pete Fiore, president of Ascential Software. "CIOs require a solution that they have confidence in to offer all of the components of data integration - data profiling, transformation, cleansing, and enrichment - on a single, integrated platform. Ascential Software has responded by delivering the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.5, the most advanced end-to-end enterprise data integration platform available today." "HP shares a common vision with Ascential in which information technology not only supports change but helps to assert change by providing the underlying infrastructure for making better business decisions," said Bruno Castejon, director of business application solutions, Enterprise Storage and Servers, HP. "We welcome the launch of the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.5 on Itanium-2 based HP Integrity servers running HP-UX 11i v2, as it demonstrates our continuing commitment to delivering enterprise-class products that help customers realize that vision." The ODS Companies (ODS) is a multi-faceted organization that provides dental, medical, and professional health care insurance products, along with a variety of business services including dental practice management software and benefits administration. ODS is using real-time elements of the Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.5 to meet HIPAA compliance, rapidly respond to customer requests, and securely manage sensitive patient data. "Only Ascential Software's solutions provide the scalability, interoperability, and flexibility that we need to optimize the value of corporate data," said Val Taylor, IS development supervisor at ODS. "How we manage corporate data is critical to our ability to help our customers. The Ascential Enterprise Integration Suite 7.5 has provided our enterprise architects with improved functionality that helps us meet stringent Federal regulations and aggressive customer service goals."