Arcontech Group Regulatory News (ARC)

15 May 2009 07:00



Arcontech unveils CityVision for Sun Solaris

London, 15 May 2009.  Arcontech, the real-time market data technology specialist has today announced the availability of the Sun Solaris™ version of its CityVision market data distribution platform. The Solaris version has completed rigorous internal tests and is currently undergoing client acceptance testing.

The latest CityVision version was developed in response to market demand for Solaris on Intel x86 and in recognition of the preference in many City firms for the robust operating system on lower cost hardware.

The Solaris version uses exactly the same core code base as the extensively proven CityVision for Microsoft Windows™.  This was made possible by Arcontech's innovative use of its own real-time micro kernel, providing an abstraction layer from the underlying operating system. Only the kernel needed to be ported, greatly reducing both the effort required and the risk of introducing programming errors, since almost no logic needed to be reworked.

The Solaris components are completely interoperable with the Windows versions, meaning that even a change from Windows to Solaris can be undertaken with no system downtime. 

According to Andrew Miller, CEO of Arcontech, "CityVision supports true hot standby with automatic failover and no data loss. One half of the system can be brought off-line and upgraded while the other half continues. Then the system can be failed over to the newly upgraded Solaris side while the remaining Windows side is upgraded. All of this with no loss of service - no competitor can beat CityVision for availability."

Solaris is often attractive to the market data operations of city firms because of the incumbent installations and staff skill sets. Solaris systems are considered more manageable and easier to deploy.

Andrew Miller added: "We're seeing strong interest in both Windows and Solaris solutions, with several new contracts signed this year, including specific requirement for the Solaris version which we are pleased to have delivered. Along the way we've incorporated many new ideas from the major firms we are working with and consequently both versions continue to stay ahead of the competition in terms of features, reliability, availability and flexibility."

Notes for Editors

About Arcontech Group Plc

Arcontech Group Plc's (AIM: ARC) key trading subsidiary is Arcontech Limited.

Founded in 1979, Arcontech is real-time software specialist providing products and bespoke systems for collection, processing, distribution and presentation of time-sensitive financial markets data.

Arcontech is independent of any data vendor (such as Reuters or Bloomberg) and has thrived due to timely delivery of dependable, cost-effective solutions to the financial community based on its award winning CityVision product suite. Its diverse clients range from National Government, Banks and Data Vendors through to Internet Bookmakers. 

Arcontech installed its first digital market data products in 1983 and has continually developed new, innovative systems and products, adopting leading edge technology, proven in the marketplace. 

Arcontech has experience of a wide range of technical concepts and applications and the ability to combine the best from each. Key areas of expertise include: 

Market data infrastructure 

Contracts for difference trading and spread betting systems 

Real-time internet distribution 

Multi vendor data contribution 

Platform integration and protocol conversion 

Consulting and custom development 

CityVision

CityVision supports collection, aggregation and redistribution of market data in real-time from multiple sources to multiple destinations. Sources can include exchanges, MTFs (Multi-lateral Trading Facilities in MiFID speak) and data contributions from the spreadsheets and trading systems of the pan-European investment banking community. Destinations include multiple vendor contributions, dealing desk displays, Microsoft Excel, real-time streaming web updates and on-line trading applications.

CityVision is fast, flexible, fully resilient, scalable and secure, with a full authentication and entitlements system. The system is extensible to receive instruments in any asset class, from hundreds of contributors and to provide controlled re-distribution. 

CityVision can interoperate with other systems (such as Reuters RMDS and exchanges) via existing de-facto standards (such as Market link SSL and FIX) and via its own comprehensive APIs. This means it can provide cost effective solutions to add value to or replace incumbent systems. 

AXE

Arcontech's AXE is a complete system for on-line and telephone based Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading and spread betting. It is a fully featured product using our award winning CityVision components, combined with proven customer, deal, order and position management software. It's fast and resilient with automatic recovery from server and/or network failure and instant failover to contingency systems. Support for multiple currencies, different languages and graphics re-skinning mean it can be deployed quickly to suit customers' own branding without the need for costly custom building - meaning customers can get to market fast.