InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[dilt1]

Follow the money -

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ibm-to-invest-3-billion-in-sensor-data-unit-2015-03-31-3103744?dist=beforebell

International Business Machines Corp. said Tuesday that it will invest $3 billion over four years on a new business helping customers gather and analyze the flood of data from sensor-equipped devices and smartphones.

The computing giant IBM, -0.26% announced the effort, along with an alliance with the Weather Company, which owns the Weather Channel and other information providers. The two companies plan jointly to exploit data about weather conditions to help businesses make better decisions.

IBM’s move is the latest in a barrage of announcements by companies aiming to exploit the so-called Internet of Things, a catch-all term for computing and communications capability embedded in a broad range of hardware in homes, offices, factories and transportation networks.

Big Blue, which has struggled lately with slowing revenue growth in older software and services businesses, has been pushing sales of its Watson software and other programs that analyze business data. Now it is competing to manage vast streams of data from Internet-connected cars, machine tools, smart home appliances, jet engines, and other sources.

The company said a centerpiece of its new business unit is a collection of online software called IoT Foundation that runs on IBM’s existing cloud services and allows customers and partners to create new applications and enhance existing ones with real-time data and analysis.

The company faces competition from various angles, from large companies such as General Electric Co. GM, +0.05% , Microsoft Corp. MSFT, -0.27% and Cisco Systems Inc. CSCO, -1.05% to startups like Ayla Networks Inc. and PTC Inc. PTC, +0.11% Challenges also are emerging from software companies that specialize in particular industry sectors, such as manufacturing or finance.

An extended version of this story can be found at WSJ.com