In 2006, we reinforced and expanded our international market position. Our leading position in traditional data management maintained for 37 years has now been supplemented by technological leadership in Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA). SOA is a global trend in the software industry and represents the market of the future. Software AG is also a leader in the field of legacy modernization. This area deals with the integration of existing applications based on mainframe systems within a Service-Oriented Architecture. We have a clear competitive advantage here based on our competence and long-term experience in integrating systems and applications.

Software AG is Europe’s largest provider of system software and the sixth largest software company €pe. It is the second largest software company in Germany.

Our market position is based on the following competitive advantages:

• We focus on customers by offering individual software solutions

  Software AG offers individual software infrastructure solutions in order to gear our products towards our customers requirements. Modular IT solutions, open standards, and integratable interfaces optimally support companies business processes and IT applications. Our customers are able to design their IT systems to meet their business demands and to give them a competitive advantage.

• We have many years of experience and a broad customer base

  With 37 years of experience in the management of business-critical data for more than 3,000 customers around the world, Software AG has become a trustworthy partner for its customers. Many renowned companies have been working with Software AG products for more than two decades. The high levels of customer satisfaction and the constantly updated product portfolio translate into high entry barriers in the business area. Our existing customer base is an excellent point for launching our new Crossvision product portfolio.

• We are a first mover and technological leader

  Software AG’s history has been shaped by being the first to develop and market new IT solutions. Software AG has been an innovative mover from the first commercial databases, fourth-generation programming languages, integration software, and XML technology up to Service-Oriented Architecture technology. Software AG remains the technological leader in data management systems and XML-based data integration. On top of this, Software AG delivers high performance, security, and 24/7 operations on mainframes and many platforms as well as expertise in web services and open standards.

• Our Crossvision Suite is a leading product line for building SOA-based IT infrastructures

  For the second time in less than a year, Forrester Research has named Software AG a leading company in a segment that focuses on integration and SOA. Crossvision is the first complete product portfolio to enable companies to build new IT infrastructures based on Service-Oriented Architecture and to manage SOA. As an instrument for management and control, CentraSite is the first SOA product that offers companies orientation for the implementation of the new SOA trend.