IBM buys Green Hat

IBM has made a play for virtual test lab developer Green Hat for an undisclosed sum.

Big Blue said in a statement that it would incorporate Green Hat into its Rational software business upon completion.

The software will also be offered through IBM Global Business Services.

Green Hat has an Australian presence with local customers including Telstra.

Ovum principal analyst Michael Azoff said the combination of IBM and Green Hat could reduce "huge pressures" on quality assurance caused by take-up of Agile methodologies and tests run earlier in development lifecycles.

"Green Hat ... removes impediments to Agile processes in mission-critical, large scale projects," Azoff said.