IBM has been on a spending spree this year, snatching up companies that offer a wide array of technologies.
Who: Sterling Commerce, provider of software for cross-channel commerce and integration of customer, partner and supplier networks
Amount: $1.4 billion
Why: According to TechCrunch:
IBM says the acquisition of Sterling will expand its ability to help organizations connect and communicate with customers, partners and suppliers both on-premise or through cloud computing delivery models.