IBM acquires Gluecode Software.

IBM has announced it has acquired Gluecode Software, a privately held company based in El Segundo, Calif., and provider of software and support services for open source application infrastructure software. Financial details were not disclosed.

Based on core open source technology from the Apache Geronimo application server, Gluecode's software and related subscription support services provide a flexible and affordable infrastructure to organizations that need a reliable alternative to traditional commercial software offerings. Gluecode helps Java developers, small and mid-sized businesses (SMB) and departmental users reduce the complexity of application development by pre-integrating the most common services for building mainstream Java applications.

IBM will become an active contributor to the Apache Geronimo open source project and will expand the existing community of developers that advance this project and innovate on top of it. IBM plans to contribute Gluecode-developed software features to Apache Geronimo as well. In addition, IBM today also announced it will contribute software to the open source community that allows developers to use Eclipse development tools for developing, debugging and deploying Apache Geronimo-based application software.

IBM is a long-time supporter of the Apache Software Foundation, as well as many other open source projects. IBM's WebSphere software incorporates Apache's open source HTTP server. Last year, IBM contributed its Cloudscape data software to the Apache Derby project. Examples of other IBM collaboration with the open source community include its work relating to Eclipse application development tools technology and Linux.

"IBM sees growing demand for a broad range of application integration middleware in the marketplace, including open standards-based and open source Java application server technology, especially amongst SMB and departmental users," said Robert LeBlanc, general manager, Application and Integration Middleware, IBM Software Group. "With the Gluecode acquisition, IBM enables customers and Business Partners to tap the low cost of entry of open source technology to quickly develop and deploy applications, and migrate to WebSphere software as business needs expand."

With the acquisition, IBM will enable customers and Business Partners to download Gluecode application server software and start development and deployment at no cost, and then purchase software support services as needed from IBM. Gluecode's operations will be integrated into IBM's Software Group.

"The acquisition of Gluecode by IBM recognizes the value of software solutions that are built in collaboration with the open community," said Chet Kapoor, CEO, Gluecode. "We are pleased to enable a new business model for IBM that allows them to address a broader spectrum of business needs."

Gluecode expands IBM's WebSphere application integration middleware portfolio. A recent report from IT analyst firm Gartner, Inc. again positioned IBM as the number one application integration and middleware vendor based on license revenue in 2004. Gartner data showed IBM as the leading vendor across all key middleware areas including application servers, integration suites, portals and the composite application platform suite marketplace.