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IBM Digs In
IBM is dipping its toes deeper into the ASP market, announcing a far-ranging partnership with asset management software provider Peregrine Systems. A two-part alliance will see IBM develop an infrastructure management practice based on Peregrines technology, as well as a global application hosting business. The ASP service will initially be based on Peregrines Get2Connect platform, which lets business partners purchase products or services from one another, as well as exchange business information. IBM will later likely offer Peregrines other applications on a hosted basis, including its trademark infrastructure management software. Ray Dicasali, senior vice president of Peregrines Get2Connect division, says: “I would say at least 35 percent of our customers are looking at the hosted solution, and about 15 [percent] to 20 percent are opting for it.”
No One at Home
A reader tipped ASPects off in July to the fact that all was not well at Intira, a Pleasanton, Calif., ASP. The tip was surprising because Intira had signed a big partnership deal with Deloitte & Touche earlier in the year and had some big-name customers, including Longs Drugs. But it was clear something was amiss when a call to the companys public relations firm revealed that the firm was no longer working for Intira and refused to say why. Calls to the company went unanswered, and messages left with CEO Bernie Schneider were also ignored. But all became clear July 30 when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. A day later, Divine, an Internet holding company, struck a deal to acquire most of Intiras assets. At least it wasnt personal.
Bigger Deals
Old friends are golden, is USinterworkings motto these days. The Annapolis, Md., company says it is seeing a big uptake among clients to broaden the number of users and applications delivered through the ASP. Such clients include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Mars Music; Wood Mackenzie, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank that acts as a consultant to the energy industry; and XL Global Services.