IBM to Acquire DBaaS Provider Cloudant

IBM (IBM) has announced its plans to acquire privately held database-as-a-service (DBaaS) provider Cloudant to extend its Big Data and analytics, cloud computing and mobile offerings. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

To enhance its Big Data and analytics portfolio, Big Blue plans to leverage Cloudant’s DBaaS solution to accelerate the development of mobile and web apps, the company said.

Cloudant runs on the IBM SoftLayer platform and extends IBM’s recent investment in the SoftLayer cloud infrastructure by providing developers tools and resources to build, test, deploy and scale cloud apps on a variety of hosting layers.

Sean Poulley, IBM Databases & Data Warehousing vice president, said in a statement that the acquisition will assist IBM with its Big Data, cloud and mobile initiatives.

“Cloudant sits squarely at the nexus of these three key transformational areas and enables clients to rapidly deliver an entirely new level of innovative, engaging and data-rich apps to the marketplace,” he said.

“Our relationship with IBM and SoftLayer has evolved significantly in recent years, with more connected devices generating data at an unprecedented rate,” said Cloudant CEO Derek Schoettle in a statement. “Cloudant’s NoSQL expertise, combined with IBM’s enterprise reliability and resources, adds data layer services to the IBM portfolio that others can’t match.”

After the deal closes, Big Blue said Cloudant will join IBM’s newly formed Information and Analytics Group, a business unit within the IBM Software & Systems Group led by SVP Bob Picciano. Both companies expect the acquisition to close in Q1 2014.

Earlier this month, IBM also extended its cloud offerings by launching anew data virtualization service aimed through its partnership with Actifio.

Follow CJ Arlotta on Twitter @cjarlotta for further updates on the story above.