IBM Offers Real iSeries Utility Computing
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

When I interviewed Mark Shearer, the new general manager of the iSeries line, I ended by asking him if IBM had considered selling OS/400 servers and software under a subscription-style model, moving away from the whole concept of selling servers. What neither of us knew at the time was that IBM already does this for the iSeries, and other server platforms, too. (IBM is a $100 billion company, and no one can know everything it is doing.) READ MORE >

IBM Buys Application Service Provider Corio
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

In a move that appears to be designed to boost its application hosting business and to prevent its competitors from easily doing so, IBM announced last week that it had acquired Corio, a relatively unknown provider of applications on demand, for $182 million in hard, cold cash. Based on Corio's stock price and market capitalization before the deal was announced, IBM is paying a 38 percent premium to acquire the company. READ MORE >

Lotusphere 2005: Domino Shops Want Roadmaps, but Want to Drive
by Dan Burger

IBM claims there are 118 million Notes users in its Lotus sphere of influence. Approximately five thousand of the lucky ones show up at Disney World every January to immerse themselves in education and training, get a stronger foothold in the present, see a glimpse of the future, and have the opportunity to feel the warmth of the sun in winter. Though there have been years when IBM has well-kept secrets to spring on Lotusphere attendees and the media, this was not one of them. READ MORE >

Infor Solutions Buys MAPICS, Takes It Private
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

There's a certain gravity in the application software market these days. The tough marketing conditions, the long sales cycles, and the expense of keeping up with the bigger ERP software suppliers have forced just about all mid-tier ERP players to rethink their strategies. Gravity is a good word for the conditions, too, since the big players are reaching out and absorbing smaller niche players, or companies of similar size are attracted to each other and are merging. READ MORE >

  But Wait, There's More

IBM Cuts AIX Software Prices for i5 520 . . . IBM Said to Be Working on iSeries-Specific Financing Deal . . . IDC Closes the Book on 2004 IT Spending, Projects to 2008 . . . JDA Says It Had Record Sales in Q4 . . . Judge Tells IBM to Stop Dragging Its Feet and Cough Up the AIX and Dynix Code for SCO Suit . . . Hitachi Debuts Improved SATA Disk Drives . . . IBM Gives Data Centers What They Really Need: SOMA . . . READ MORE >

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