IBM has announced a beta program for new software that allows all types of information to be more effectively used to power business intelligence systems, consolidate enterprise applications, create and manage master repositories of critical business information, and search and access information on demand no matter where it is stored within the enterprise. The products announced today will simplify the complex task of integrating various types of information in the enterprise, enhance the quality and accuracy of that information, and improve the productivity of the individuals managing it.
      Businesses have large volumes of data but often don't know where specific data is, can't get it quickly enough, don't understand it, don't have it in the right format, or its quality can't be monitored or controlled. With this announcement, IBM offers the industry's broadest portfolio of information integration products to give customers the flexibility to tap into both structured information (such as databases from any vendor or ERP systems) and unstructured information (such as email or images) and use this information for maximum benefit.
       IBM is combining technology from the acquisition of Ascential Software earlier this year with IBM's existing information integration portfolio. This consists of technology from both the Ascential project code-named Hawk and IBM's project Serrano. Project Hawk delivers the foundation for a new
simplified powerful user interface that will ultimately be leveraged across the entire portfolio to make the software easier to use. This project also introduces a new metadata infrastructure to provide tight coordination across data used by all of these products for consistent information about the content, quality, condition and other characteristics of data.
      Project Serrano streamlines the design and development of information infrastructures and enables users to leverage information across the enterprise through unprecedented enterprise search capabilities, information integration and text analytics. Together, these enhancements will make it easier to leverage all types of information on demand no matter where or how it is being used. Key to project Serrano is a new product, IBM Rational Data Architect, which provides tools for saving countless design and development
hours. This new software is built on the open source Eclipse platform and helps data architects model, discover, map, and analyze data across multiple information sources, automating information integration in complex environments.
      Another new product announced, was IBM WebSphere Information Analyzer, part of project Hawk, provides end-to-end data profiling, auditing and business-oriented analysis in a single product. It shares a central repository with IBM WebSphere DataStage and IBM WebSphere QualityStage, allowing immediate metadata sharing and traceability across those products.
      "Companies are looking to grow revenues, manage costs and be more responsive to their customers' needs," said Pete Fiore, vice president, Information Integration Solutions, IBM. "With these new information
integration offerings, we're enabling IT to better meet the business needs with trusted information, delivered on demand when it is needed, in the form required. This allows breakthrough productivity for business and IT alike."

Enhancements Across the IBM Information Integration Portfolio
Rational Data Architect and WebSphere Information Analyzer will be available for beta testing throughout the summer. Beta customers are also being recruited to test the new releases of IBM WebSphere Information Integrator OmniFind Edition, IBM WebSphere DataStage, and IBM WebSphere QualityStage. These products, in addition to new releases of IBM WebSphere DataStage TX, IBM WebSphere Information Integrator Content Edition, and IBM WebSphere Information Integrator Replication Edition, will be
commercially available in the third and fourth quarters of 2005.
      With a focus on simplifying integration for improved productivity and increasing confidence in information quality, IBM's enhanced information integration platform is optimized to automate and simplify complex
information integration tasks. This enhanced portfolio connects to any data and content, enhances information for accuracy and consistency, and delivers timely and coherent information.
      Recruitment of customers to beta test these products is currently underway. For more information about participating in the open beta for any of these products, visit http://www.ibm.com/software/data/integration/launch.html.