IBM Buys SOA Developer Webify
Webify's middleware technology helps organizations break down their business processes into components that can be linked together with Web services standards and software. A longtime Big Blue partner, Webify has its technology already optimized for use with IBM's WebSphere stack, although it also will work with rival stacks like Oracle's Fusion middleware.
Financial terms of the Webify acquisition, announced Wednesday, weren't disclosed. IBM was particularly drawn to Webify for the company's deep industry expertise, IBM WebSphere General Manager Robert LeBlanc said in a press conference call. Webify has customized its offering for health-care and insurance customers and aims to expand into banking and telecom.
Four-year-old Webify is based in Austin, Texas, and has a substantial number of employees working in Mumbai, India. Webify CEO Manoj Saxena said he expects all of the company's 120 employees to join IBM.
Webify has focused most of its partnership efforts on working with IBM and major systems integrators such as Accenture and BearingPoint, Saxena said. IBM plans to quickly integrate Webify's technology into its WebSphere line and to make it available to its IBM Global Services group, which will use it to offer clients industry-specific, reusable service components.
IBM routinely buys smaller ISV partners to pad out its WebSphere line. Other SOA-focused deals include its October purchase of DataPower, a Web services appliance maker and its December buy of Bowstreet, a portal software developer.
