Computer, Software, Hardware, Laptop, Printer

IBM Rational Build Forge Express Edition will be available starting October 23rd at a price of $49,000 per server, IBM said. IBM obtained the foundation for the software when it acquired application development specialist BuildForge in 2006 for an undisclosed sum.

Another new tool introduced Friday by IBM, the Tivoli Network Manager IP Entry Edition, gives IT staffers at mid-sized businesses the ability to monitor their network performance in real time. Pricing details were not disclosed.

IBM has spent considerable efforts in launching "Express" versions of its middleware products. Rational, WebSphere, DB2, Tivoli, and even Lotus all have less expensive versions available for smaller companies to run or as evaluation software for larger corporations.

SMBs represent an important growth market for IBM, whose sales to large enterprises have been relatively flat in recent years. Researchers at AMI Partners say IT spending by SMBs will grow by 10% in 2007 -- driven by high double-digit growth in emerging markets such as Brazil, India and China.

IBM's total sales, adjusting for currency, increased 5.9% in the second quarter, while software sales rose 9.1%.

To help build out its own software developer product plans, IBM has said it plans to acquire development tools maker Telelogic. However, the proposed $745 million acquisition of the Swedish vendor is now the subject of a European antitrust investigation, EU officials said Friday. Europe's second highest court recently upheld antitrust penalties against software maker Microsoft.

Labels: Software

by dayatna at 11:57 PM |