IBM To Buy CrossAccessIBM To Buy CrossAccess

IBM on Tuesday said it will acquire the assets and staff of CrossAccess Corp., a privately held maker of software for accessing mainframe data, for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close later this month.

CrossAccess makes software that lets developers pull data from mainframe systems in their programs, using Windows and Unix programming conventions instead of mainframe techniques. Selling that capability to IBM customers could let software developers bring data from mainframe databases made by IBM competitors Computer Associates and Software AG into their applications using IBM software, says IBM distinguished engineer Nelson Mattos. The technology also allows access to IBM's VSAM and IMS databases.

"This is a reasonable set of technology for IBM to have in its portfolio," says Betsy Burton, an analyst at Gartner. "The capability is pretty standard. This won't have a dramatic effect on its portfolio."

IBM plans to fold CrossAccess' technology and nearly all of its 24-person staff into its data-management software group, which develops the DB2 Universal Database. IBM will sell a rebranded version of CrossAccess' eXadas software, which lets Windows and Unix developers use common database access protocols, including Open Database Connectivity and Java Database Connectivity, to access mainframe data. That could speed application development, Mattos says. IBM also will integrate the technology into its DB2 Information Integrator product, used to build call-center, financial, analytical, and pharmaceutical research applications.

The acquisition of CrossAccess is the third by IBM's data-management group in the past two years. IBM bought Tarian Software last November and Informix Software in 2001. CrossAccess has about 50 customers, including Allstate, Archer Daniels Midland, Continental Airlines, and Ingram Micro, according to the company's Web site.