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Big Blue's Software Spending Spree
abb_road writes "IBM has gone on an aggressive acquisitions spree for document management packages in the past three weeks, spending more than $2 billion to pick up two companies. The companies, Webify and FileNet, are expected to become part of IBM's Information on Demand strategy. The acquisitions point to a larger industry trend: a focus on software for unified corporate data management. From the article: 'It's a crucial time to jockey for most-valuable-software-provider status, because companies want to buy more from fewer players, and they're tired of buying stand-alone pieces of software like customer-relationship management that don't fix real-world business problems. The new message to software vendors: Fix my call centers, don't just sell me a product. As a result, the lines are starting to blur between software companies that offer, say, Internet security, databases, and tools to manage nearly every part of the business. So, too, are the lines between service companies and software companies.'"
When IBM goes on a software spending spree, it makes the news. But when normal people go down the aisles at Best Buy and throw everything into their cart, THEIR spending spree doesn't make the news at all! Oh, the injustice!
If we are, then Mao is rolling over in his spartan, commie grave. If not, then I'd say this is just a software version of vertical integration, first seen thousands of years ago, in the 1920's.
the mods may say you posted flamebait, but to me it's a flame that warms my heart. rock on, brother! --chebucto
Reminds me of this .
"You're everywhere. You're omnivorous."