IBM DB2 9 Data Server Expands XML Presence

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today introduced a series of quick start software bundles for the DB2 9 data server designed to help clients adapt their information management environments to meet new standards for handling XML data.

The new DB2 9 pureXML quick start bundles help database administrators and software developers to load XML industry exchange messages and schemas more easily, and to define XML queries and indexes for business applications. The first of these bundles are based on specific industry XML standards that support FIXML and FpML, which are formats developed for the financial industry. The industry-specific XML message exchange formats provide methods to exchange XML data information between and within companies.

Today's announcement builds upon the momentum DB2 9 has generated among clients and business partners who have embraced the patented pureXML technology in IBM's flagship data server. Thousands of new customers have selected DB2 9 in the four months after its launch, including Nippon Chemi-con Corporation, a Tokyo-based electronic components manufacturer that has chosen a joint software solution from IBM and business parnter JustSystems to optimize inventory redistribution in its global operations. UBmatrix, Skytide and Altova also are among the growing list of business partners to announce support for the native XML capabilities of DB2 9.

"One of the key features of DB2 9 is the ability to handle both relational data as well as XML," said Bernie Spang, director IBM data servers. "IBM's patented pureXML technology is one of the main reasons that our customers are telling us that DB2 9 has ushered in a new era of data server technology that helps them to grow their businesses. By enhancing this XML capability and providing specific industry format support, we are again setting the bar for the industry XML standards."

Managing XML data is particularly challenging in the financial industry, where multiple industry formats are used, including FpML for financial derivatives, FIXML for financial trading, and MISMO for mortgages. Different industry formats are used in federal government (such as GJXDM), and healthcare (such as HL7) applications. Very often the XML messages being exchanged are stored for a variety of purposes, such as auditing, tracking, and querying.

The pureXML capability of DB2 9 provides the ability to store, update, delete, query, and index well-formed XML. Users can retrieve entire XML documents or document fragments by incorporating XPath, XQuery, and SQL into their queries. They can also register XML schemas and instruct DB2 to validate XML documents against these schemas.

DB2 9 marks the culmination of a five-year IBM development project that has transformed traditional, static database technology into an interactive, vibrant data server that enables clients to improve they way they manage varied types of information, such as documents, Web pages and digitally signed XML transactions. IBM's new data server provides an industry-first seamless and simultaneous information flow of both XML and relational data, regardless of format, platform or location.

DB2 9 -- formerly code named "Viper" -- is IBM's new data server that incorporates the most significant database technology enhancements introduced to the industry in more than two decades.

These technologies will be available for free download on alphaWorks, IBM's online outlet which provides access to new and emerging software technology from IBM research and development labs around the world. To access the new industry quick start bundles, please visit: http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/purexml

For more information about IBM, visit www.software.ibm.com/data