ATLANTA, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Seagull Software, a leading provider of high-performance solutions that transform legacy business applications into service-oriented architecture (SOA) assets, announced its acceptance into the IBM SOA Specialty after successfully completing IBM's rigorous SOA technical and business requirements. With this achievement, Seagull Software's LegaSuite(R) software solution has been validated to integrate with the IBM SOA Foundation; a single, integrated platform that combines the industry's top application server and integration capabilities to help enterprises accelerate IT response to business change.

The IBM SOA Specialty provides technical enablement and a skills-building roadmap for partners who want to access the growing SOA market opportunity. For those who achieve key milestones, the Specialty will also provide SOA- specific marketing and sales benefits such as SOA Connection Events to meet directly with IBM SOA Sales specialists and discounted print advertising and telemarketing. IBM Sales Connections, a consultative service in the PartnerWorld Industry Networks, helps business partners close SOA deals quickly by connecting them with the relevant IBM SOA and local field sales team.

"Seagull Software specializes in transforming legacy applications into SOA assets and they are involved in many successful projects that sit on the IBM stack," said Sandy Carter, vice president, SOA and WebSphere, IBM Software Group. "IBM supports partners like Seagull Software to ensure that our customers have the business and technical resources they need to migrate to SOA as quickly and easily as possible."

"IBM is committed to thought and technology leadership in the enterprise SOA arena, and we are proud to be accepted into the PartnerWorld SOA Specialty program," said Kim Addington, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Seagull Software. "We help customers blast through the legacy roadblock and plug their most critical business processes into IBM's SOA Foundation. Once customers see the power of SOA reusability, they are well on their way to SOA."

The IBM SOA Foundation outlines the logical steps to implement SOA. Each step represents an integrated, open set of software, best practices and patterns. Seagull Software can leverage the SOA Foundation to maximize and accelerate the value of SOA for its customers. IBM provides SOA Specialty partners with ready access to software, SOA sales specialists and marketing programs.

About Seagull Software

Seagull Software specializes in technology that transforms "legacy" applications into SOA-compliant Web services, helping enterprises achieve exponentially faster IT support for business change, governance and compliance. Our LegaSuite(R) software platform includes integration, GUI, workflow and terminal emulation technology. With LegaSuite, customers connect legacy applications on IBM mainframe, VME mainframe, System i5, UNIX/VT and Windows client/server platforms to the Web, to other middleware and to newer- generations of applications such as portals, CRM and SCM. LegaSuite is based on open standards including Web services, XML, J2EE and .NET. Powerful and innovative tools require no coding, which means rapid results, reduced risk and no maintenance burden. Committed to providing the best customer experience in the industry, Seagull Software's technology is in use in more than 10,000 business and government organizations worldwide, and by millions of end users. Seagull Software has direct operations in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, UK, France, and Germany, supplemented by distributors serving approximately 30 additional countries. For more information, visit http://www.seagullsoftware.com/.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The correct usage of our company name is Seagull Software.

Forward-Looking Information: All statements in this press release which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements expressing general optimism about future operating results and non-historical information, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are, and will be, based on management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not necessarily limited to management's ability to manage growth, and hire and retain qualified employees; unpredictable customer demand; intense competition; rapid technological change; unpredictable market acceptance of new products; and market instability and/or reduction in software purchasing caused by exceptional circumstances.

CONTACT: Dianne Edwards of Seagull Software, +1-404-760-1560,
dedwards@seagullsoftware.com

Web site: http://www.seagullsoftware.com/