IBM: Buying Big Data Capability or Customers?
December 21, 2012
I just learned that IBM is duplicating its Big Data “capability.” Actually, since IBM has more Big Data capabilities than I have goose feathers, IBM is probably buying customers. Navigate to “IBM to Acquire StoredIQ in Big Data Play.” This “real news” story reported:
In plain terms, IBM wants to help businesses figure out which data is important in the short- and long-term so that it’s easier to find valuable data (and easier to eliminate unneeded data). Aside from being a good business practice — you don’t really want to keep every bit and byte, do you? — it also helps cut down on all the hardware necessary to store that information.
Okay, but doesn’t IBM already own that Big Data powerhouse Vivisimo? Doesn’t IBM own the DB2 data management system? Doesn’t IBM already own WebFountain, CLEVER, and dozens of other text processing methods? Doesn’t IBM already own iPhrase, SPSS Clementine, and the really zippy STAIRS III code base?
IBM is buying companies, slapping on the Big Data label, and then taking a close look at the customer lists. Why? IBM knows it is tough to make a Big Data sale in today’s fluid market. My view is that it is easier to buy existing customers, do the upsell thing, and move on. “Real news” outfits see “Big Data” and don’t poke into other “value” elements of the company.
Does IBM know what it owns? My dear, departed mother bought multiple pairs of black shoes. She could tell the pairs apart. I was clueless.
Just my opinion. Honk.
Stephen E Arnold, December 21, 2012
Comments
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
