IBM to shell out $740 million for MRO Software

IBM is entering the IT asset management market with a $740 million acquisition of MRO Software. MRO is better known for its industrial equipment management software, but even that's becoming more IT-dependent these days, and meanwhile the IT asset software is a good fit for IBM's Tivoli series. IBM and MRO have been partners for a decade and IBM plans to retain MRO's employees, so the transition for customers should be smooth.

For more on MRO:
- see this CNet News.com article