IBM free offers signal Microsoft assault

IBM is to try and lure software developers in a bid to take on rival Microsoft.

Co-marketing deals, free software, low-cost development tools and access to large customer accounts will be offered to developers if they agree to translate their applications to run on IBM software platforms.

IBM expects an upturn in global technology markets later this year and analysts see this as an attempt to resuscitate the company's fortunes.

The company has already announced that 200 software developers had agreed to move their software to IBM middleware. IBM's software technology is based on the popular Java computer language and the free Linux operating system.