IBM to buy Dublin-based Now Factory

IBM is to buy Dublin-based software firm The Now Factory, it was confirmed today.

The company, which helps give communications firms insight into mobile data usage across their networks and deliver a better user experience, will become part of IBM’s software group, and the deal is expected to close later in the year.

Financial terms have not been disclosed.

The acquisition is in line with IBM’s long-term strategy to capitalise on the expected growth in big data and analytics. The Now Factory will bring new capabilities to the tech firm’s big data platform, allowing it to bring more real-time analytics to its clients.

“Today’s announcement is part of IBM’s strategy to continually establish leadership in the era of big data and capitalize on the opportunity to analyse data in real time,” said IBM software group’s Bob Picciano. “The Now Factory’s software enhances IBM’s big data and analytics portfolio by improving the speed, development and implementation of big data solutions, and gives communications service providers the ability to better service their customers.”

The deal will also have a knock on effect for Now Factory’s current customers, allowing them to access the IBM PureData System for Analytics and Hadoop-based IBM InfoSphere BigInsights for exploration and deep analysis of subscriber and network data.

The Dublin-based firm has customers in more than 29 countries. Its technology allows the monitoring of networks, giving companies a better insight into what is happening on their infrastructure, managing and improving the customer experience, and also monetising the networks and driving new revenues.

“The Now Factory’s innovative solutions are all about enabling quick insights for better business results in the highly competitive telecommunications landscape,” said chief executive Tom Morrisroe. “As part of IBM, we can now extend our technologies to a broader range of clients to help them uncover new, untapped growth opportunities, and achieve tangible business value from big data and analytics.”

Revenue from IBM’s big data and analytics business is expected to reach $20 billion by 2015.

It has nine global analytics solution centres in Berlin, Beijing, London, New York, Ohio, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich.