Big Blue pays out #80M for Edmark

IBM has gobbled up edutainment supremo Edmark in a bid to focus its consumer business on the home.

Big Blue paid out $80 million in cash for the children's software publisher in an attempt to boost sales of IBM PCs and software to home consumers.

IBM's foray into entertainment software, such as its recent CD-ROM based on the Pinnochio movie, has so far not fared well. But US analysts said many of Edmark's titles, including its recently released Mighty Math Series, Stanley's Stickers Stories and its Thinkin' Things Series, were becoming popular.

"Edmark has some very valuable properties. This acquisition should be seen as one in a series of major moves that will help IBM achieve some of its goals in the consumer market," said Richard Zwetchkenbaum, director of consumer research at market research firm International Data Corp.

A spokesman for IBM said it was more interested in education than entertainment software.