Dive Brief:
- IBM is putting its support behind Spark -- a tool used to analyze large amounts of data in real time. (For example, targeting ads to people as they walk by a billboard.)
- Although not the first big firm to work with Spark, IBM’s authority and scale could help push Spark into the mainstream.
- IBM is trying to get in on the ground floor as the “Internet of Things” will continue to create massive data sets that can be leverage for targeting purposes.
Dive Insight:
IBM is hoping to get in on an emerging trend by supporting Spark. As the "Internet of Things" -- the trend of Internet-connected objects -- expands, data tools haven't been able to keep up. IBM, which has a large stake in big data, wants to find a solution, and is betting on Spark to do so.
"We think this will help take Big Data to a whole new space and unleash much more developer innovation," Bob Picciano, senior vice president of IBM Analytics, told the Wall Street Journal.
