E-Business Companies Team Up In the Interest of Coopetition

IT companies are building alliances faster than the stars of Survivor, causing competitors to buddy up in the interest of a common goal. Most agreements are carefully orchestrated to prevent a new partner from treading on another's turf. Still, more than a few companies are weaving tangled webs.

Vignette teamed up in early August with IBM for a global partnership that integrated Vignette's V/5 e-business applications with IBM's WebSphere e-business platform.

Soon after, the e-business software maker announced an expanded partnership with Sun Microsystems that also provided V/5 for Sun's Solaris operating platform. This month, IBM added e-business software company BroadVision's One-to-One solutions to its servers.

While offering complex solutions and a variety of software is good business, it can also create a crowded house. Last month, Siebel Systems acquired OnLink Technologies. But shortly before the deal was struck, OnLink established a strategic partnership with Vignette, Siebel's rival.

"We live in a complicated world where there is the concept of coopetition," says David Schmaier, vice president of products for Siebel. "Some customers will buy our products and some will buy Vignette's,and that's OK.

Plethora of Partners

Aug. 3: Vignette forms alliance with IBM

Aug. 7: Siebel acquires OnLink, which had recently partnered with Vignette

Aug. 10: Vignette expands partnership with Sun

Sept. 8: IBM and BroadVision join forces