IBM snaps up US database firm Compose

Latest acquisition designed to beef up cloud database market

IBM has acquired US database firm Compose as it looks to further its position in open source and cloud data services.

Founded in 2010, Compose provides databases that are used for software developers to deliver data services.

The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, sees IBM take a bigger stake in the cloud database market, which Big Blue noted is expected to be worth $14bn (£9bn) by 2019, according to research from data management firm Dataversity.

Derek Schoettle, general manager of IBM cloud data services, said: "Compose's breadth of database offerings will expand IBM's Bluemix platform for the many app developers seeking production-ready databases built on open source.

"Compose furthers IBM's commitment to ensuring developers have access to the right tools for the job by offering the broadest set of DBaaS service and the flexibility of hybrid cloud deployment," he added.

Kurt Mackey and Jason McCay, co-founders of Compose, wrote that joining IBM is an "incredible new challenge".

"At IBM, Compose will be part of the Cloud Data Services (CDS) group. It's a great fit. We'll be able to continue building what we think is important, with a brand we really like, and the same team that works so well together, all with the backing of a major company," the pair wrote on their website.

"As a nice bonus, we're especially excited about CDS. IBM has a tremendous database pedigree (it's kind of ridiculous, Codd invented the relational model there in the 60s) and CDS is the spearhead of their efforts to reinvent the entire company. It's an incredible new challenge."