Propylon launches PropelX 2.0- radically simplifies enterprise integration.

[Dublin, Ireland --December 12, 2002] Propylon, a leading provider of Data Integration technology, today announced the release of PropelX v2.0, the world's first Data Integration platform, based on XML pipeline transformation technology.

PropelX provides a graphical development centre that combines the ability to design, develop and deploy data integration solutions. PropelX uses XML to radically simplify the task of integrating content and data systems. PropelX takes the scalability, fault tolerance and high performance of it's underlying J2EE system and leverages that to produce one of the most usable and effective integration solutions available.

PropelX directly addresses the most time-consuming and difficult elements of enterprise and B2B integration projects. Rather than modify systems to conform to each other, Propylon's products mediate between the systems using advanced data transformation technology. This mediation approach to interoperability is more cost effective and simpler than normal integration efforts such as standardised schema based integration or centralised hub and message buses. This represents a significant paradigm shift from traditional integration solutions being marketed by both conventional Integration companies and the newer Web services companies.

Pipelined XML transformations is the critical next phase in XML/Web services based integration", says Sean McGrath, CTO of Propylon. Web Service technology needs to provide comprehensive facilities for XML payload processing. Without that, Web services are just another re-run of the failed paradigm of distributed object based integration. We need to be realistic about how far SOAP/WSDL/UDDI can get us. Real solutions to real business problems require comprehensive data processing facilities on top of the basic interconnectivity layers of the SOAP stack", he added.

Paul McKeon, CEO of Propylon agrees. Web services by themselves do not solve the problems of data integration, not unless we all agree to use the same XML vocabulary or the same object API. History has shown over and over again that such agreements are extremely time consuming and costly to obtain. The concept that a single set of interconnectivity standards will enable businesses everywhere to speak the same language is as misplaced as the idea that EDI solved the integration challenge 30 years ago," commented McKeon. He continued The current Web services stack changes little about the cost of integration, the real effort and the real cost of integration projects accrues data transformations. PropelX lowers the cost of integration by addressing the data transformation problem head on via a scaleable, re-usable and maintainable transformation components."

PropelX is based on XPipe, and XML pipeline processing methodology developed by Sean McGrath. Propylon was also one of the co-submitters with Sun Microsystems and others of the XML Pipeline Definition Language to the W3C in February 2002. PropelX leverages the methodologies underlying XPipe and XML Pipeline Definition Language to produce the next generation in enterprise integration.

PropelX allows a user to define their data transformations (particularly XML transforms) as a series of standalone, re-usable components that are assembled together in a pipe that executes the transform. PropelX is ideal for those enterprises deploying high volume, complex integration projects that have a high degree of XML transformation requirements e.g. Publishing, Telecommunications and Government.

PropelX transformations can be comprised of almost any type of data processing modules including fragments of XSLT, Java classes, python or executable legacy components. Building on the Xpipe methodology and J2EE underpinnings, PropelX significantly reduces the effort required to create scalable data transformation systems. By including XSLT fragments within it's transformation components, PropelX allows XSLT to be re-used and scale; capabilities that were previously unattainable. Early adopters of the technology are satisfied that PropelX is providing a scalable, reliable and easily controlled channel for data transformations in the modern enterprise. This latest product version is testament to the fact that Propylon is providing solutions that transform business integration.