The IBM Empire Strikes Back

As thousands of ISV, solution provider, integration partners converge on Boston this week for Microsoft's annual worldwide partner confab, IBM is making itself as visible as possible.

It's no secret the two companies have long squared off, each claiming to be the partner's best friend.

In that spirit, IBM has caused a couple hundred Boston taxis to sprout IBM "Better Way To Partner" signage. Ditto the bus stops around the Boston convention centerat least according to IBM. (For attendees' sake, here's hoping that the bus drivers won't strike again as they did at Tech Ed.)

IBM's also handing out free ice cream and Sametime 7.5 demo CDS out across the street. There's also an event for 200 guests (I'm assuming partners here) on July 11th.

It's a tad reminiscent of the good ol' Lotus daysyou know before it was bought by IBM. The LDB building is just a scant two miles or so away from the conference, although most of Lotus has long since left for other parts of the IBM empire.

It's nice to see the spirit of competition from the Lotus days thrive, even in the Boston heat.