Also being announced is Systems z for ISVs, an initiative providing software vendors with technical, sales, and marketing resources to build applications to run on IBM middleware and System z boxes. This program is being offered through IBM's PartnerWorld Industry Networks and provides ISVs with free consulting sessions with IBM architects. IBM will build a custom online environment where vendors can develop, port, and test applications on System z.

IBM also is providing next-generation mainframe developers with courseware via the IBM Academic Initiative.

Rational Cobol Generation Extension for z/OS is available now for US$1,500 per developer. The WebSphere Process Server and ESB for System z are available in June, with pricing not yet available.

Shipping later this year are: DB2 Viper for z/OS; WebSphere Portal 6.0 for z/OS and Tivoli Federated Identity Manager for z/OS. Pricing information is not yet available for these products.

(Shelley Solheim of IDG News Service, an InfoWorld affiliate, contributed to this report.)