The next shift is to an object-oriented form of distributed application that is Web-enabled and peer-to-peer -- and here's where the old types of middleware run out of steam, ... The new companies bubbling up in this area want to ensure they can underpin the new paradigm, and IBM obviously thinks it's best to buy one of the few hardware companies here than try and build something itself.  -   Caroline Chappell     Quotes
The next shift is to an object-oriented form of distributed application that is Web-enabled and peer-to-peer -- and here's where the old types of middleware run out of steam, ... The new companies bubbling up in this area want to ensure they can underpin the new paradigm, and IBM obviously thinks it's best to buy one of the few hardware companies here than try and build something itself. Caroline Chappell