IBM builds modular future

IBM detailed plans for extensive cross-pollination of its software last week at its DeveloperWorksLive conference in San Francisco. Extensive refreshes of its DB2 data management, WebSphere Internet infrastructure, Lotus collaboration and Tivoli management software will let the products trade elements in a move that could make IBM a more attractive one-stop shop for IT buyers.

Though IBM will still offer the products in standalone form for the foreseeable future, its plans call for deep support for Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) 1.3 and Web services across lines, with software becoming more componentised and interdependent.

For example, Lotus will use DB2 as the data store for its Discovery Server application for locating services, data and people. Tivoli will become the performance monitor, backup software and access rights manager used in WebSphere, and will itself use DB2 as its data mart for storing information. Lotus messaging and collaboration features will be available as components that can be embedded not just in other IBM applications but also in user interfaces, browsers and devices such as PDAs.

Such a software fabric could make it more attractive to buy IBM across lines, rather than mixing and matching elements from several vendors. While many of its competitors have been in decline, IBM Software has shown significant growth, most notably in its DB2 and WebSphere lines. Two recent reports from market analysts IDC and Gartner suggest that those lines have wrested revenue leadership from Oracle and BEA respectively.

But IBM Software senior vice president Steve Mills said IBM does not plan to change the way it sells software, and will not, for example, promote a packaged approach across products in the way Microsoft does with its BackOffice line. "At IBM we always have to match [software tariffs and packaging] to what cust- omers want," he said. "They tend to buy BackOffice and select the pieces they want. Our plan remains that the more you buy the lower the cost per user."

Some customers said IBM's approach was reminiscent of old proprietary systems that forced customers to buy from a single vendor, leading to exploitative pricing. One developer said, "With Java-based Web services you'll certainly see more attempts to [join] complementary components. But by taking DB2 and making it a core part of another IBM application, you're bound to have some people who feel that's too close to the old days of lock-in."

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