Dell Computer Corp., Round Rock, TX, said yesterday it would partner with Ariba, Mountain View, CA, to create an online marketplace targeted at Dell’s business customers.
The marketplace will cater to Dell’s small and medium-size customers and will use Ariba’s software technology to link businesses on Ariba’s network. If all goes according to plan, the site will decrease the cost of purchasing products and services by aggregating requests from customers.
Dell also said it would take an equity stake in Ariba and become the latter company’s leading hardware supplier. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.
The announcement was made at the Ariba User Group and Advisory Council in San Diego.
The Dell B2B Marketplace is expected to launch in the third quarter.
