IT Analysis has an interesting article titled "Will IBM buy BI". The article highlight how IBM has been quietly building up its portfolio of capabilities within the business intelligence area and associated technologies. Of course the most notable of these acquisitions was Ascential but there have been a number of others, including what is now Entity Analytic Solutions (previously SRD) as well as both customer and product master data management offerings.

Now, bear two further thoughts in mind: first, IBM describes itself as a BI vendor despite the fact that it does not offer a business intelligence solution per se, and secondly it divorced from Hyperion early this year although the two companies retain a close relationship. Put all this together and you have to wonder if IBM may not be positioning itself for a further acquisition. An acquisition that would make a reasonable impact in the BI space.

The author lists possible options "SAS, Business Objects, Cognos, Hyperion and MicroStrategy", Microstrategy being the most likely.

Source: IT-AnalysisPrashanth RaiTag(s):BI, IBM.