Fujitsu Software Corporation Announces Release Plans for Next Version of Netcobol for .NET

PR02/24 April, 2003

Fujitsu Software Corporation Announces Release Plans for Next Version of NetCOBOL® for .NET Version 2.0 will include support for Microsoft® Visual Studio® .NET 2003 and incorporate significant enhancements

Fujitsu Software Corporation announced today that in July it will release Version 2.0 of NetCOBOL for .NET, the only COBOL compiler currently available for the Microsoft .NET platform. Version 2.0 will support the just released version of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003. This version of NetCOBOL for .NET will also have numerous enhancements, including features to enable better integration with other .NET products and enhanced programmability of the .NET platform.

“Fujitsu has a great track record of providing COBOL programmers with all of the advantages of the Microsoft .NET platform as soon as they are available,” said Mark Tennant, Product Marketing Manager, Windows Server, Microsoft Ltd. “This release demonstrates Fujitsu’s continued commitment to provide enterprise customers who have heavy investments in COBOL with the latest features available in the .NET platform.”

In addition to support of Microsoft’s Visual Studio .NET 2003, NetCOBOL for .NET Version 2.0 will include numerous new features. A significant milestone in Version 2.0 will be the addition of a compiler option that will allow users to generate verifiable code when compiling their COBOL source code. Verifiability is a property of code targeting the .NET common language runtime that guarantees greater security and reliability. To enhance programmability under .NET, the compiler will include features such as the ability to define interfaces, enumerations, and write Unicode source code.

NetCOBOL for .NET Version 2.0 will also include enhancements to its Visual Studio .NET support that improve existing support and the ability to integrate with other Visual Studio .NET products. Some existing features that will benefit from this work are the Win Form and Web Form designers. Some of this new work is also designed to benefit legacy migration solutions. NetKicks™, for example, is Fujitsu Software Corporation’s solution for enterprise customers who want to migrate their CICS applications to the .NET platform.

"Having been involved with the .NET platform since its inception, we have developed a tremendous amount of expertise that results in a better product,” added Basim Kadhim, chief architect, Fujitsu Software Corporation. “The features and design decisions we are making today also put us in a position to take advantage of future innovation in the platform.” NetCOBOL for .NET Version 2.0 will be the fourth release of the NetCOBOL for .NET product in 16 months and continues to be the only COBOL compiler currently available that targets the Microsoft .NET platform. NetCOBOL for .NET has included support for all of the major features of the .NET platform, including the ability to develop XML Web Services in COBOL.

For more details about NetCOBOL for .NET go to www.netcobol.com/products/windows/netcobol.html

About Fujitsu Software Corporation Fujitsu Software Corporation, based in San Jose, California, is part of the Fujitsu Limited family. Fujitsu Software Corporation leverages Fujitsu's international scope and expertise in developing and providing information technology solutions. Fujitsu Software Corporation's products include NetCOBOL and Interstage™, e-business infrastructure software. NetCOBOL is a COBOL development environment and suite of tools to build fast, mission-critical business systems on open platforms, including Microsoft's .NET Framework. For more information, visit http://www.fsw.fujitsu.com

About Fujitsu Limited Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace- setting technologies, high-reliability/performance computing and telecommunications platforms, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts make Fujitsu uniquely positioned to unleash the infinite possibilities of the broadband Internet to help its customers succeed. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 5 trillion yen (about US$38 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com/.

Fujitsu Limited, Interstage, NetKicks, and NetCOBOL are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited of Tokyo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information, please contact:-

Fujitsu Software Corporation or The Microsoft Press Centre Yusuf Hatia, Fox Parrack Hirsch T: 0870 20 77377 T: 020 7436 4336 E: [email protected] E: [email protected]