SDL, the leading provider of Global Information Management (GIM) solutions, today announced plans for significant additional development initiatives to integrate SDL WorldServer™ with SDL GIM applications to provide seamless connectivity throughout the localization supply chain.  The development roadmap for SDL WorldServer continues beyond 2010 as an integral part of “Project Affinity” (the codename for the next-generation enterprise translation management system from SDL).

Expanded development efforts will focus on three key areas:

• Enhancement: Improved translation memory leveraging , adopting the significant advancements seen in SDL Trados® Studio and  compatibility with SDL Trados Studio. Providing essential integration and connectivity between SDL WorldServer and the translation memory editor used by 90% of the translation supply chain. Better performance and usability and enhanced filter framework.
  

• Unification:  Delivering new integrations with SDL Trados Studio 2009, SDL MultiTerm® Server 2009, automated translation plug-ins as well as SDL XySoft™ and SDL Tridion® solutions. Providing SDL WorldServer customers tight integration across their enterprise.
  

• Migration:  Implementing Affinity functionality into SDL WorldServer as it becomes available.  Helping to ensure a seamless and gradual migration path to Affinity, at the same time as adding significant technology advances to the SDL WorldServer product.

These initiatives will enable SDL WorldServer customers to take advantage of our best-of-breed automated translation offering, tighter localization supply chain integration and the valuable features and benefits of SDL GIM applications.
 
“SDL has the leading technologies, the deepest industry insight and the only complete solution for the entire global content lifecycle,” remarked Mark Lancaster, CEO and Chairman of SDL.  “While we continue to heavily invest in the next generation enterprise translation management solution, we are totally committed to providing our customers with a gradual and seamless transition from their current platform to Affinity.” 

Project Affinity encompasses SDL’s evolutionary strategy for converging multiple systems into the next-generation platform.  It will deliver significant new and leveraged best-of-breed functionality, along with a phased migration program, to provide current customers with the comfort and flexibility to plan their GIM solution upgrade at their own pace.

SDL WorldServer customers are invited to a roadmap presentation from SDL on Tuesday, November 17, 2009.  For more details please contact Amy Hall (amhall@sdl.com).