IBM Aims To Bolster Analytics With Alphablox Buy

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but IBM said the agreement is expected to close this month.

Privately held Alphablox makes analytics that VARs and ISVs can embed in their products and services. Plans call for IBM to weave Alphablox technology into several of its middleware products, including WebSphere Business Integration Monitor, DB2 Data Warehouse Edition and the Rational toolset.

Like many other software companies, IBM is building up its analytics and business-intelligence applications war chest. The IBM Software group has acquired 16 companies since 2001, starting with the purchase of Informix. Last December, IBM bought Green Pastures for its realtime document management expertise. That deal represented its fourth acquisition in a year.

Other acquisitions included Aptrix, CrossWorlds and CrossAccess in 2003 and Tarian in 2002.

Over the past year, enterprise software vendors such as Oracle, PeopleSoft and Siebel Systems have all touted increased analytics capabilities. Microsoft, too, is beating the drum on the reporting and analytics services in SQL Server.