IBM said the acquisition of the Dublin, Ohio-based Sterling Commerce "will expand IBM's ability to help organizations create more intelligent and dynamic business networks."
The company said more than 18,000 customers around the world use Sterling Commerce offerings in the financial services, retail, manufacturing, communications and distribution industries.
"Businesses today are operating in a highly competitive global environment in which lines between actions taking place within and outside an organization's four walls are blurring," said Craig Hayman, an IBM general manager.
IBM and AT&T said they expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2010 subject to regulatory approvals.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010
