WEBM Webmediabrands (MM)

webMethods, Inc. (Nasdaq:WEBM), a leading business integration and optimization software company, today announced that it was named a leader in the recently published market assessment The Forrester Wave�: Integration-Centric Business Process Management Suites, Q4 2006 (December 20, 2006). Complementary copies of the report are available for download by visiting www.webMethods.com/ForresterWave. webMethods was among thirteen companies that Forrester Research invited to participate in the analysis with each company being evaluated on the basis of its Current Offering, Corporate Strategy and Market Presence. In addition to being ranked as a leader within the overall evaluation, webMethods was also recognized with the top overall score among the thirteen vendors for Current Offering and tied with one other vendor for the highest score for Corporate Strategy. Scoring within the Current Offering category was based on an evaluation of version 6.5 of the webMethods Fabric� product suite. According to Forrester, �webMethods was one of the first vendors to realize the significance of XML interactions, bringing its first generation of XML-based B2B integration software to market in 1999. Since that time, the vendor has expanded its scope to include enterprise application integration (EAI), electronic data interchange (EDI), and, most recently, business process management (BPM), giving it the most comprehensive and easy-to-use integration suite on the market. webMethods has worked diligently to gain and maintain a leadership role in the integration software category. The vendor accomplished this using a product strategy that relies on a heavy dose of internal development and quick integration of acquired technology.� [src: webMethods Captures The Lead In The Latest ICBPMS Product Evaluation - The Forrester Wave� Vendor Summary, Q4 2006 by Ken Vollmer and Henry Peyret with Mike Gilpin and Megan Daniels (December 20, 2006)] Within the Current Offering evaluation, where it received the highest score, webMethods was also the top scoring vendor within two of three sub-categories � Connection and Business Process Management � and tied with two other vendors for the top score for service-oriented architecture (SOA). Connection: �webMethods Fabric provides a well-integrated, comprehensive collection of capabilities for supporting many foundational requirements for advanced integration and BPM in the SOA world.� Business Process Management: �webMethods provides strong monitoring features, as well as comprehensive support for vertical-industry accelerators.� SOA: �webMethods has been a strong proponent of the concepts underlying SOA since its inception. This is reflected in the level of functionality that the vendor provides in this area.� In addition to earning a top overall score for Corporate Strategy, webMethods received the highest score, along with two other vendors, for the underlying strength of its Product Strategy and Vision, and tied with several vendors with the highest score for its Strategic Alliances. webMethods also received positive recognition for Solution Cost: Product Strategy and Vision: �webMethods has provided a comprehensive product road map and has a strong vertical focus. The webMethods Fabric product is comprehensive and well-integrated.� Solution Cost: �webMethods Fabric is priced in the midrange compared with other products in this category.� Strategic Alliances: �webMethods has strong partner alliances in the areas of systems integrators, application partnerships, and resellers.� �By bringing together one of the industry�s most comprehensive product suites for integration-centric business process management with the recognized �ease-of-use� that is facilitated by the full integration of the product suite, we can deliver maximum value. Global 2000 enterprises and leading government agencies rely upon webMethods Fabric to reduce the time to business improvements and competitive differentiation as it ensures that new processes and composite applications can be developed and deployed with maximum efficiency, ease and speed,� said David Mitchell, president and CEO, webMethods, Inc. �What this report also highlights is the rapid pace at which we�re able to bring new innovations to market. By fully incorporating BPM and business activity monitoring as well as support for SOA enablement, management and governance into our product suite, we�re able to help enterprises realize new levels of agility, control and end-to-end process visibility throughout their day-to-day operations.� Forrester defines Integration-Centric Business Process Management Suites as an integrated set of technologies for addressing requirements associated with enterprise application integration (EAI), business-to-business integration (B2Bi), electronic data interchange (EDI), business process management and SOA [src: Integration-Centric Business Process Management Suites Are A Good Choice For SOA by Ken Vollmer (July 19, 2006)]. About webMethods, Inc. webMethods (Nasdaq:WEBM) provides business integration software to integrate, assemble and optimize available IT assets to drive business process productivity. webMethods delivers an innovative, enterprise-class business integration platform that incorporates proven integration technology with next generation capabilities into one interoperable set of tools that delivers a unique combination of efficiency, agility and control. webMethods combines industry leadership with a zealous commitment to customers to deliver tangible business value to more than 1,400 global customers. webMethods is headquartered in Fairfax, Va., with offices throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia Pacific and Japan. More information about the company can be found at www.webMethods.com. The webMethods name and logo are registered trademarks of, and webMethods Fabric is a trademark of, webMethods, Inc. All other marks mentioned are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.