ASNA has announced the release of what the company is calling a "revolutionary" version of its Monarch modernization solution, Monarch 4.0. The company claims the new release is the "fastest path available today" for organizations who wish to expand or migrate their AS/400, iSeries, or System i green screen and Web-faced RPG applications to the Microsoft .NET Framework. Monarch also provides a relatively easy means for adding new functionality, such as Web services, n-tier architecture, and Microsoft SQL Server connectivity, and user interface improvements, the company notes.

Monarch 4.0 analyzes and migrates RPG III/ILE RPG and CL programs, display and print files, and optionally, System i DB2 data, to Microsoft's .NET Framework and SQL Server. Monarch automates the processes required to transform RPG programs, or entire applications, while preserving the original program logic and application functionality. Once transformed, applications may be extended, modified, or enhanced by development teams using either RPG or Visual Studio.

Monarch 4.0 represents a major upgrade to the earlier version of Monarch, the company says. Notable enhancements include:

·        Support for .NET Framework 3.5 and Visual Studio 2008

·        An enhanced migration agent for migrating System i DB2 files to Microsoft SQL Server

·        Support for automatically migrating embedded SQL code

·        RPG cycle support for print programs

·        Improved RPG sub-file migration features, including folding sub-files

"There are thousands of companies and independent solution vendors (ISVs) with substantial dependence on System i legacy RPG applications," said Eduardo Ross, president of ASNA.

"Many of these organizations are constrained by the System i character-based user interface and the difficulty to add functionality and interface with modern technologies. They are also constrained by the shrinking pool of skills and resources available to support these systems," he said.

"ASNA System i Expansion and Modernization Service with Monarch, enables companies to get closer to their customers, increase their market agility, improve their ability to innovate, and integrate better with suppliers, customers, and business partners," Ross said. "Monarch 4.0 is the fastest means by which organizations can rapidly transform and enhance their legacy System i application portfolio into re-energized systems that can answer today's most challenging business demands," said Ross.

"We are pleased to have ASNA provide support for Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5, as well as enhanced support for SQL Server," said Jay Roxe, group product manager in the Developer Division, Microsoft Corp. "Monarch 4.0's support enables System i users to expand and modernize their applications to use Microsoft technologies. This will enable greater flexibility to create applications that meet current and future needs."

For more information about the ASNA System i Expansion and Modernization Service and the company's flexible pricing plans visit www.asna.com/index/Solutions.

About ASNA (www.asna.com)

ASNA, a BluePhoenix company (NASDAQ:BPHX), provides comprehensive solutions for modernizing System i applications to RPG on the Microsoft .NET platform. Using a staged approach, ASNA enables companies to integrate and extend their solutions to .NET, the Web and beyond, while preserving investments in IT and human resources. ASNA solutions are distributed worldwide, and used by more than a million users.

ASNA is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Microsoft Visual Studio Industry Partner, IBM Tools Network Partner, and an Advanced Tier Member of IBM's PartnerWorld for Developers. ASNA is also a founding member of MAP (Midrange Alliance Program) and an exclusive Delivery Partner for the Microsoft NXT program for ISVs.

About BluePhoenix Solutions (www.bphx.com)

BluePhoenix Solutions (NASDAQ: BPHX) is a leading provider of value-driven modernization solutions for legacy information systems. BluePhoenix offerings include a comprehensive suite of tools and services from global IT asset assessment and impact analysis to automated database and application migration, re-hosting, and renewal. Leveraging over 20 years of best-practice domain expertise, BluePhoenix works closely with its customers to ascertain which assets should be migrated, redeveloped, or wrapped for reuse as services or business processes, to protect and increase the value of their business applications and legacy systems with minimized risk and downtime.

BluePhoenix provides modernization solutions to companies from diverse industries and vertical markets such as automotive, banking and financial services, insurance, manufacturing, and retail. BluePhoenix has 15 offices in the USA, UK, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Cyprus, South Korea, Australia, and Israel.