SPARX Systems’ unveiling of integration with Microsoft’s new Visual Studio 2005 to coincide with Microsoft’s Nov 7 launch

DENVER, COLORADO — When Microsoft releases Visual Studio 2005 in San Francisco next week, software developers will also have immediate access to a new third-party beta UML modelling suite that integrates directly into Visual Studio 2005.

Microsoft technology partner SPARX Systems is releasing new beta versions of both its core UML tool Enterprise Architect 6.0 and the add-on module needed for Visual Studio 2005 integration. Both beta releases will be available at SPARX’ website (www.sparxsystems.com) to coincide with the Microsoft product launch. A team from SPARX will represent the company at the Microsoft event at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

SPARX CEO and founder Geoffrey Sparks said the combination of the new Visual Studio 2005 and the new “integration-capable” releases from SPARX will change the way large organizations develop software. “We’re integrating the two ends of the development life cycle in a way that nobody has done before now,” said Sparks. “We’re integrating the coding at the back end with the modelling and requirements work at the beginning.”

Geoffrey Sparks said Microsoft and SPARX shared a common vision during development of the integration tools by SPARX.. “We both wanted to provide end-users – the IT specialists who create enterprise models and write software code – with a set of integrated tools that are powerful without being frustrating,” he said.

Sparks said the new beta version of their core Enterprise Architect 6.0 will be replaced by a release version later this month, and that a more-powerful version of the integration add-on is being developed for Microsoft’s upcoming Visual Studio Team System – all of which will be released in 2006. SPARX licence holders are able to install all upgrades as part of their annual subscription arrangements, and others can use the software free for a 30 day trial.

SPARX is a privately-held, debt-free company founded by Sparks – a software engineer – in 1997. SPARX’ Enterprise Architect is one of the fasted-growing UML modeling tools in the world, with four straight years of 50 percent growth in its installed base. It is currently licensed by more than 20 percent of Forbes 100 corporations and is widely-used by governments around the globe.

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