It's the latest effort by EMC to advance its grand scheme of managing the general IT infrastructure, using storage as an "in," while leveraging technology from a range of acquisitions, including the $260 million purchase of Smarts in 2004. (See EMC Acquires Smarts.)
A key part of EMC's plan is an overarching software system for its own customers, dubbed Infoscape, which was unveiled last year. (See EMC Vows More for Infoscape.)
But Infoscape is only part of the vision. The other part is to peddle Smarts as an OEM technology. And since Microsoft has similar enterprise ambitions, but does not compete with EMC on the hardware side (as do HP and IBM), the strategy appears to make sense.
Gahagan says there is no exclusivity clause in the agreement, so both vendors can make similar arrangements elsewhere.
At press time, no customers or analysts briefed on the deal could be reached for comment. Stay tuned.
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