SLOUGH, UK -- (Marketwire) -- 08/26/09 -- Progress DataDirect (www.datadirect.com), the data infrastructure division of Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) and provider of premium, vendor-independent data access and integration technologies for all major data sources has announced it will be hosting a series of free workshops to help system architects, software programmers and IT professionals interested in data access and data integration best practices.

"Mission-critical systems and end-users rely on scalable, easy access to enterprise data. However, as business grows, connecting systems and users to a variety of disparate data sources is typically a labour-intensive, costly endeavour that consumes precious IT resources," explains Charles Gold, vice president worldwide marketing, Progress DataDirect. "These workshops are designed to provide insight and answers to people working on the frontlines of systems architecture and application development."

In addition, the names of the first 50 applicants will be entered into a draw to win a Nintendo Wii, worth £180. Applicants must be present to win.

The schedule of events follows:

Data Access Briefing Series (www.datadirect-tech.co.uk/data-access/data-access.html): attendees will learn how to optimise, enhance and simplify data integration, data access and data connectivity, regardless of the platform and the underlying technology.

September: 8 in Dublin; 10 in London

Mainframe Integration Workshop (www.datadirect-tech.co.uk/shadow.html): covers how to create an environment where the mainframe can be directly integrated with a far wider range of application data types and at the same time lower costs and reduce management time.

September: 15 in Chennai; 20 in Slough
October: 1st in Edinburgh; 20 in Dubai; 22 in Munich; 27 in Moscow;
         28 in Helsinki

Data Integration Workshop (www.datadirect-tech.co.uk/xml.html): addresses how to connect systems and users to a variety of disparate data sources and without labour-intensive, costly headaches that consume precious IT resources.

September: 15 in Chennai; 17 in Delhi; 29 in Slough
October: 1st in Edinburgh; 20 in Dubai; 22 in Munich; 27 in Moscow;
         28 Helsinki

Data Connectivity Workshop (www.datadirect-tech.co.uk/connectivity.html): explores how to improve application response time and scalability and how constant access and security issues can impact application connectivity.

September: 15 in Chennai; 17 in Delhi; 29 in Slough
October: 1st in Edinburgh; 20 in Dubai; 22 in Munich; 27 in Moscow;
         28 in Helsinki

The workshops will use real-world examples to illustrate how businesses can benefit from the high performing, flexible and proven technologies offered by Progress DataDirect. They are designed to benefit IT directors/managers, project managers, system architects, programmers as well as anyone that wants to explore data access and data integration. Visit http://www.datadirect-tech.co.uk/ for more information.

About Progress DataDirect

Progress DataDirect is the software industry's only comprehensive provider of software for connecting the world's most critical business applications to data and services, running on any platform, using proven and emerging standards. Developers worldwide depend on Progress® DataDirect® products to connect their applications to an unparalleled range of data sources using standards-based interfaces such as ODBC, JDBC(TM) and ADO.NET, XQuery and SOAP. More than 300 leading independent software vendors and thousands of enterprises rely on Progress DataDirect to simplify and streamline data connectivity for distributed systems and to reduce the complexity of mainframe integration. Progress DataDirect is an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS). For more information, visit www.datadirect.com.

Progress and DataDirect are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Java and all Java based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.