Just as HP today closes its Mercury acquisition, IBM has stepped in with an offer to steal Mercury customers.

IBM has declared a 25 per cent discount on Rational and Tivoli software, if you're an HP Mercury or OpenView customer willing to trade sides. Apparently, IBM's software represents "freedom of choice," while HP's software centers on "proprietary architectures." But you all know how this pot/kettle name calling goes.

(As it turns out, these migration programs are not new at all, even though IBM in a statement claims they are. The company went after the Mercury crowd last month. Although, we're told that it's only as of today that you could actually get the 25 per cent discount.)

The 25 per cent discount policy extends to IBM's vast reseller channel as well. Grab an HP scalp, and you're in Big Blue's good books.

Along with the discount, IBM has even more sales incentives, training and services on hand to help customers kick their HP habit.

IBM and HP have spent years dishing out similar programs at opportune moments. More often than not, the battle revolves around the companies' high-end server and business software lines.

For more on the Tivoli program look here, and those of you feeling Rational can look here.

Act now while hyped up bad blood supplies last. ®

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