For immediate release

WebSmart and Catapult are now included on IBM’s IBM i Try & Buy CD and distributed with i5/OS

View the Full Press Release PDF

Chicago, IL - Business Computer Design announced that they have signed a distribution agreement with IBM allowing WebSmart, BCD’s IBM i-Web application development tool, and Catapult, its automated IBM i system report distribution and document management tool, to be distributed through the IBM i Try & Buy program. The IBM i Try & Buy CD is shipped globally to IBM i customers receiving i5/OS upgrades and new IBM i hardware shipments. Distribution of BCD’s software products on the IBM i Try & Buy CDs begins today.

“BCD is a valuable IBM Business Partner and a strong supporter of the IBM i system. We are pleased to have BCD participate in IBM’s Try & Buy program.” said John Quarantello, IBM i Tools Executive.

IBM’s Try & Buy initiative represents an excellent opportunity for IBM i users to evaluate BCD’s award winning products. All IBM i installations that receive the Try & Buy CD will be able to install complete versions of WebSmart and Catapult.

WebSmart and Catapult have clearly been able to demonstrate their value to all size - IBM i customers ranging from the smallest to the largest by having installed over 1,000 licenses of each.

Over 1,000 organizations already develop IBM i – Web applications with WebSmart, and more than 1,000,000 end users rely on these applications. WebSmart customers include: Starbucks, Universal Music, CompUSA, Goodyear, Formica, Kawasaki, State of California, Hickory Farms, numerous city and county governments, and numerous organizations including those involved in transportation, manufacturing, insurance, distribution, banking, and healthcare.

BCD anticipates large numbers of IBM i users will take advantage of this IBM program. They will activate Catapult because organizations need to reduce printed paper output, increase workflow and reduce distribution and mailing costs using a single integrated tool. They’ll activate WebSmart because thousands of organizations have pent up requirements to develop IBM i – Web based applications of all sorts. It is BCD’s experience that those who evaluate WebSmart, develop production quality Web-based applications on the same day they activate the product.

According to Eric Figura, BCD’s Director of Sales and Marketing, “Results of talking to hundreds of IBM i system IT people while at conferences such as COMMON, and feedback we receive from our surveys indicate a strong need for web development technology that IBM i system IT people can quickly understand. They want a solution that will build simple to mission critical IBM i – Web applications as well as extend existing applications. WebSmart accomplishes all this and more.”

Figura, an ardent advocate of IBM i technology adds, “We love what IBM has done with the IBM i platform and its value proposition. BCD has expanded upon that success, extending the value proposition by making it easy to develop browser based applications. Significant numbers of IBM i shops have skilled RPG developers who can easily master web development by using WebSmart. IBM i installations ranging from the smallest to the largest can benefit from WebSmart as it offers the choice to develop applications as ILE-RPG CGI or Java using the same robust IDE. Combine that with the experience of thousands of successful IBM i, and Web application development tool installations and BCD’s excellent technical support, you have what IBM i shops need to succeed.”

WebSmart Overview

BCD is a Charter member of the IBM i Tools Innovation Program and WebSmart is highlighted on IBM’s IBM i Developer Roadmap. Multi-award winning WebSmart is one of the easiest and most comprehensive IBM i-Web application development tools to use. It’s so versatile it generates ILE-RPG CGI or Java.

IBM i users now have the professional tools to get their applications to the Web faster and more affordably using technology IBM i people truly understand. WebSmart includes Templates, custom-designed Wizards and 100+ free routines to build robust web applications. Users can quickly create Inquiries, Maintenance, Order Entry, Shopping Carts, B2B, B2C and complete web sites serving dynamic content, and extend existing IBM i applications. WebSmart supports SOA, Web Services, XML, Email, and output to Excel, Graphs, and more. It includes built in Change Management (CM) and interfaces to leading CM tools. WebSmart includes unlimited developer seats and requires no seat licenses for end users. It integrates to the Free License of BCD’s Nexus Portal for controlled, secured access by employees, clients and trading partners along with numerous productivity tools. Over 1,000 organizations prefer WebSmart for strategic IBM i – Web application development.

Catapult Overview

Catapult a winner of multiple industry awards for excellence, is an IBM ServerProven product that is highlighted on the IBM i Developer Roadmap. It automatically distributes IBM i reports by e-mail, to web sites or network drives and does it all this with no changes to applications. Catapult allows IBM i installations to automate workflow, reduce printing, distribution, and mailing costs.

Catapult monitors IBM i output queues to grab reports and optionally split them for distribution, by Email, Fax or Print. It converts reports to PDF, RTF, and HTML with options to compress, encrypt, and archive…. Graphical form overlays can be added to PDF, RTF, and HTML documents. You can auto-extract data to create Excel spreadsheets. Catapult integrates to the Free License of BCD’s Nexus Portal, to automatically archive documents and reports, and it automatically generates search indexes. Authorized users can search, view and add documents via a secured browser environment. You may grant or restrict access to distributed reports and documents to protect sensitive information.

The PC-based console lets Catapult administrators easily manage distribution rules, manage e-mail addresses and distribution groups as well as work with audit trails for SOX compliance. Over 1,000 organizations prefer Catapult for their automated IBM i report and document distribution needs.

Once you install WebSmart or Catapult from IBM’s Try & Buy CD, you complete the online form and receive 30-day trial codes to activate full working copies of the software. All product functionality is available to you during the trial period. If needed, a 30 day trial extension is available. Complete support is included with all BCD software evaluations. These tools are licensed directly from BCD or authorized dealers. You may also download WebSmart or Catapult from www.bcdsoftware.com if you have already received your i5/OS upgrade or want to install the most current release.

About BCD

BCD is an Advanced IBM Business Partner, Charter Member of the IBM i Tools Innovation program and recently joined the IBM i ISV Advisory Board. All of BCD’s key products are IBM ServerProven, and many are IBM ValueAdd for eCommerce. BCD has sold over 30,000 licenses of its software productivity tools to 10,000+ worldwide sites in the IBM Midrange community. Over 100 domestic and international partners form its distribution and support network.

To date BCD has won over 30 industry awards, including 15 for best Web, and IBM i application development tools. Ten awards have been received over a recent 12-month period of time. WebSmart and Catapult recent awards include: Winner of IBM i NEWS Reader’s Choice APEX Award, winner of IBM i NEWS Editor’s Choice APEX Award, and Search400.com’s Products of the Year Gold Winner in multiple categories.