Biggish Blue has written out a cheque to buy  Web analytics software maker Coremetrics.

No one is saying how many zeros were on the cheque Coremetrics is a privately owned outfit so no one has to say anything at this point. It looks like IBM will add Coremetrics into its business analytics software and services.

Coremetrics flogs a set of cloud analytics services. It means that punters can get e-mail pitches and personalized recommendations to the appropriate customers, and use customer analysis to place ads on the most-suitable networks and better manage the purchasing of search terms. Its customers include Bank of America, Holiday Inn, and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Coremetrics employs about 230 people, who will be integrated into IBM. The software will be folded into IBM's line of application and integration middleware.