After a bunch of analyst meetings last week, IBM today announced several new releases of software and initiatives that will seek to help companies handle the explosion of business processes and applications that are turning IBM System z mainframe into a hub of Internet-based computing.

IBM announced:

*Software tools that make the creation of "services-ready" mainframe applications by Java, VisualBasic, COBOL and PL/1 developers as easy as mastering an advanced video game after only a short time.

*An initiative to expand the base of independent software developers using the System z platform. IBM will encourage new ISVs to develop their applications for the System z through technical, sales and marketing support, no-cost access to IBM IT architects, advertising discounts and customer lead generation tools.

*New IBM middleware to secure and integrate the hundreds of applications and petabytes of data running through IBM System z and other computers in an IT infrastructure.

-- New university courseware and a global "Master the Mainframe" student contest to reach the next generation of mainframe developers around the world.

Read more here.