Micro Focus Delivers Next Generation Application Development Platform

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Micro Focus (LSE:MCRO.L), the leading provider of enterprise application modernization, testing, and management solutions, today announced the availability of Micro Focus Visual COBOL for Microsoft Visual Studio 2012. A significant step forward in the longstanding relationship between Microsoft and Micro Focus, this new development supports the work of today’s developer as well as the next generation of application developers.

“Visual Studio 2012 improves the development process, helping teams of any size work more efficiently and collaboratively. By adding Visual COBOL, development teams have what they need to quickly build high-quality modern applications.”

Thousands of organizations around the world depend on business systems running COBOL applications. They underpin their IT systems, including many business-critical operations. Developers responsible for maintaining and enhancing these systems can now access industry-leading development tools through the integration of Visual COBOL and Microsoft Visual Studio 2012. Developers using Visual COBOL from within the leading industry-standard integrated development environment (IDE), Visual Studio 2012, can now re-use, enhance and re-purpose existing enterprise COBOL applications alongside other Microsoft languages and platforms, such as C#, Visual Basic and ASP.NET.

This tight product integration also increases developers’ capacity for delivering new software. Development teams, previously divided by technology disciplines, can unite and work more effectively together. Businesses running COBOL systems can now evolve and deploy them on new platforms such as .NET and the cloud, reducing the risk of not being able to find or hire professionals skilled in running legacy systems.

“We’re honored to be working closely with Micro Focus to build on the benefits of Visual Studio 2012,” said Tom Lindeman, Director of the Visual Studio Industry Partner Program at Microsoft. “Visual Studio 2012 improves the development process, helping teams of any size work more efficiently and collaboratively. By adding Visual COBOL, development teams have what they need to quickly build high-quality modern applications.”

“Both Microsoft and Micro Focus are committed to leading technology innovation within the application development and modernization market,” said Kevin Brearley, Senior Director of Product Management for Micro Focus. “We are constantly innovating for our customers and we are proud to bring the next generation of COBOL development products to today’s Visual Studio user. Visual COBOL already delivers enterprise innovation for core business applications and this announcement marks a significant step forward in integrating Visual COBOL in the modern business context.”

Key benefits of Micro Focus Visual COBOL include:

Ability to future-proof business-critical applications deployed on the Windows platform, ensuring continued business value from existing IT systems
Increased developer productivity and performance, expanding resource pools and accelerating delivery cycles
Ability to modernize COBOL systems and provide access through mobile and web channels

Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 significantly improves the application development experience. Faster performance, streamlined responsiveness and improved toolset capability accelerates development time and delivers the latest in user interface enhancement through Windows 8 interface development.

For more information on Visual COBOL, visit: www.microfocus.com/vs2012.

About Micro Focus

Micro Focus, a member of the FTSE 250, provides innovative software that allows companies to dramatically improve the business value of their enterprise applications. Micro Focus Enterprise Application Modernization, Testing and Management software enables customers' business applications to respond rapidly to market changes and embrace modern architectures with reduced cost and risk. For additional information please visit www.microfocus.com.

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