SAN JOSE, California – March 19, 1997 – Fujitsu Software Corporation today unveiled the Fujitsu COBOL Version 3.0, Enterprise and Professional editions, supporting the latest ANSI and ISO COBOL standards of the worlds most widely used programming language. Fujitsu COBOL 3.0 features a number of significant performance and productivity enhancements including seamless integration with Microsoft® Visual Basic®, Visual C++®, and SQL Server.

Enterprise companies worldwide have standardized on COBOL as the cornerstone of their mission-critical computing solutions. As customers adopt Microsoft Windows® solutions in ever-increasing numbers, they are looking for ways to integrate their existing legacy COBOL systems. Fujitsu COBOL’s high performance and mission-critical environment are tightly integrated to Microsoft visual tools and key technologies, including Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++, and BackOffice™, Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM), and ActiveX™ technologies.

"The combination of Microsoft’s visual development tools and Fujitsu COBOL opens new deployment options for legacy COBOL applications. Programmers can now reuse legacy COBOL programs as components in multi-tier client/server or Internet applications," said Todd Yancey, director of sales and marketing for developer tools, Fujitsu Software. "As a Microsoft Enterprise Development Partner, we want to ensure that Fujitsu COBOL not only fully supports Microsoft’s advanced technologies but fully exploits those technologies across the entire enterprise."

Fujitsu COBOL Enterprise edition provides development teams with the tools to design and build multi-tier solutions that tap the opportunities of the Internet and integrate with existing software and hardware investments.

"We’re excited to have Fujitsu as a Microsoft Enterprise Partner and sponsor to Developer Days; we have enjoyed a long standing relationship with them" said Tom Button, director of marketing for developer tools, Microsoft. "It’s key for Enterprise companies to develop mission-critical computing solutions and Microsoft is delighted that Fujitsu is taking advantage of the power of Microsoft platforms and technologies to bring this functionality to companies worldwide."

"Fujitsu COBOL leverages our existing COBOL programs by enabling full support for Windows based client/server computing and providing the ‘best-of-breed’ mission-critical COBOL production environment on Microsoft Windows operating systems", said Murray Fish, chief executive officer of RealWorld Corporation.

Microsoft Developer Days Official Venue for Unveiling Fujitsu COBOL

Fujitsu COBOL Starter Set version 3.0, will be given away for free to every attendee of Microsoft Developer Days, a developer training event spanning 95 sites and 45 countries. For more information, visit the Microsoft Web site at www.microsoft.com/devdays.

Product Availability

Both the Enterprise Edition and Professional Edition of Fujitsu COBOL are scheduled to be available at the end of the first quarter of 1997. For more information, visit the Fujitsu COBOL Web site at www.adtools.com.

Founded in 1935, Fujitsu Limited is the world's second largest computer manufacturer and an international leader in computers, telecommunications, semiconductors and other electronic devices. The Fujitsu Group of over 400 technology, software, and service companies posted global revenues of more than $34 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

Fujitsu Software Corporation (FSC) and Fujitsu Limited are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited of Tokyo. Microsoft, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Windows, Windows NT, BackOffice and ActiveX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.