In a move to expand mobile capabilities it offers to clients, IBM has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Worklight, a privately held, Israel-based provider of mobile software for smartphones and tablets.
Worklight will offer clients an open platform that helps speed the delivery of existing and new mobile applications to multiple devices. It also helps enable secure connections between smart phone and tablet applications with enterprise IT systems.
“Our clients are under increased pressure to meet the growing demands of a workforce and customer base that now treat mobility as mission-critical to their business," said Marie Wieck, general manager of IBM application and infrastructure middleware. “With the acquisition of Worklight, IBM is well-positioned to help clients become smarter mobile enterprises reaching new markets."
Worklight supports consumer and employee-facing applications in a broad range of industries, including financial services, retail and health care. For example, a bank can create a single application that offers features to enable its customers to securely connect to their account, pay bills and manage their investments, regardless of the device they are using.
"In the last year, we have seen surging demand from enterprises for mobility solutions that will support the unique set of challenges introduced by new smartphone and tablet platforms," said Shahar Kaminitz, CEO and founder, Worklight.
The acquisition of Worklight is expected to close sometime this quarter. Worklight will sit within IBM’s Software Group.
