Cloud computing brings together the ubiquitous connectivity of the Internet, unprecedented access to applications and data from around the globe, and essentially an unlimited data storage capacity for anyone to tap into. Leading vendors of internet-based technologies such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo and Adobe are all investing significant resources and focus into making The Cloud an effective, practical, and powerful environment for application developers and vendors to distribute and execute their applications in many new, exciting, and cost-effective ways.

looksoftware is at the forefront of application modernization and integration solutions for core 5250 and 3270 mainframe applications, providing the tools and expertise to enable developers to easily integrate new technologies with their IBM back-end investments.

snap for The Cloud is a set of connectors that provide developers and vendors of core 5250 and 3270 applications with the technology to:

• Enable user collaboration and sharing of documents
• Reduce IT costs
• Provide a platform for leveraging Web 2.0 technologies such as mashups
• Utilize Web services from many different vendors
• Store data in many remote locations and access it from anywhere
• Share data between users and third parties
• Deploy applications and data using a variety of new mechanisms and sales models
• Implement software as a service (SaaS)

The many technologies and skill sets required to take advantage of The Cloud have been simplified and automated so that a developer with minimal training and knowledge of modern Web technologies is able to keep up with the demands of the organization. The developer can thus focus on the needs of the business.

snap for The Cloud will initially support Google's Cloud offerings such as Google Apps and GDrive. This will enable System i users to collaborate using Web-based document management solutions, in addition to deploying and accessing many components of their applications and data via the Internet. Future releases will leverage other industry leaders and technologies such as:

• Microsoft Windows Azure
• Amazon Web Services (AWS), including:

- Amazon Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2)

- Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

- Amazon CloudFront

• Adobe Acrobat.com
• Yahoo Cloud Computing

One of the most exciting features of The Cloud that looksoftware has already implemented with some of its partners, is SaaS based deployment. The rapid growth of subscription-based SaaS and Cloud-based solutions offers a number of advantages over traditional software purchase models including:

• Reduced upfront cost and risk
• Pay for what you need, when you need it
• Costs savings due to shared infrastructure
• Faster time to value

looksoftware has already become a leading provider of tools and technologies that enable effective implementation of SaaS.

ARKONA Inc. (a subsidiary of DealerTrack Holdings, Inc Nasdaq:TRAK) is a looksoftware ISV partner focussed on the automotive industry and is the developer of Dealer Management System (DMS) which was awarded North American DMS provider of the year in 2007.  According to Rich Holland, president and CEO of ARKONA, "We are probably the fastest growing DMS provider. One of our real strengths is our method of deployment. We offer our tools via the Internet, so the store does not have to make a substantial investment of hardware or licensing of technology." Arkona's rapid growth was forecast by Forrester Research's Connecting Dealership Computing, which stated, "Over the next two years, we expect OEMs to contract with next-generation providers like ARKONA..."

Cloud Computing Journal recently reported BMW's decision to adopt Arkona's DMS as the standard dealer management system to be used in training apprentice BMW service technicians at all nine of its Service Technician Education Programs (STEP) facilities in North America. Earlier this year General Motors selected AKONA to join its Integrated Dealer Management System program for its 7,000 strong dealer network--DMS will now effectively replace Reynolds and Reynolds in GM's dealership program. ARKONA's most recent strategic win was Ford Canada's selection of DMS to replace its iCONNECT application.

Another looksoftware partner leading the move to Cloud computing is e-buzz who was recently acquired by ECi² (http://www.eci2.eu/), after successfully SaaS-enabling its Bridge ERP application suite. Then e-buzz managing director, Pieter Reijnders, said, "This is one of the most exciting phases in our company history. We have already rolled the new product out to 17 customers in the first year with an additional 200 customers achievable over the next two to three years." At the point of being acquired by ECi², e-buzz SaaS offerings were deployed to around 500,000 users.

USP Hospitales (www.usphospitales.com) is a Spanish based solution provider in the health care industry and another example of a successful looksoftware ISV partner who has SaaS-enabled its ACH patient care application for 37 hospitals and clinics throughout Spain and Portugal.

looksoftware's product manager Eamon Musallam said, "As our ISV partners have already discovered, The Cloud and SaaS offer a tremendous growth opportunity by enabling easy, global access to their rock-solid solutions. It's heartening to see our ISV partner's continuing to experience growth, even in these tough economic times."

snap for The Cloud is scheduled for initial availability in June 2009. looksoftware will be providing more details about snap for The Cloud's initial release including a demonstration webinar the company is hosting on March 3rd and 4th.

About looksoftware

looksoftware, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, is an Advanced IBM Partner and Microsoft Certified Business Partner, providing easy-to-use, powerful tools to Web-enable, reuse, extend and integrate core applications. looksoftware is a member of the IBM Developer Roadmap and the Midrange Alliance Program. With over 2,000 customers in 45 countries, looksoftware's products are distributed via a global network of 120 resellers and OEM partners. For more information, contact looksoftware in Australia on + 61 3 9535 4444 or looksoftware in the USA on 678 494 5465. Alternatively visit the company Web site, www.looksoftware.com.