IBM is to buy web conferencing and communications service provider WebDialogs for an undisclosed sum.

WebDialogs has more than 500,000 users worldwide and the acquisition will help IBM continue its push into the unified communications market.

The converged telecoms sector is becoming increasingly competitive with Microsoft and Cisco also looking to secure a foothold, said Ovum analyst Ian Wesley.

‘The acquisition is undoubtedly IBM’s response to Cisco’s purchase of WebEx, which disappointed IBM on two counts.

‘IBM itself had been eyeing up WebEx for purchase and it regarded Cisco as a key partner who was now moving into IBM’s space,’ he said.

The acquisition will add a much needed software-as-a-service delivery model to the Lotus Sametime family of products, said Wesley.

‘This will expand IBM's offerings in the web conferencing space, particularly for the small-to-medium-sized business segment,’ he said.