SilverStream snaps up application server firms

In a move to avoid being trampled in an e-commerce software market dominated by giants IBM, Oracle, Sun Microsystems and Microsoft, SilverStream Software today snapped up two companies in the red-hot application server sector.

Burlington, Mass.-based SilverStream, which went public in August, acquired privately-held GemLogic, the maker of the XML Integration server products, and San Jose, Calif.-based ObjectEra for separate undisclosed sums.

Even with these acquisitions, SilverStream will still be swimming upstream, competing against about 50 companies that specialize in building application servers and software that form the infrastructure of business-to-business e-commerce Web sites.

SilverStream already uses Java-based ObjectEra's JBroker technology in its application server and will sell the product separately.

SilverStream is hoping that Southbury, Conn.-based GemLogic's XML products combined with its own Java application server will provide an attractive e-business platform.

Wall Street appears to be applauding the acquisitions, pushing SilverStream 3.07 percent higher in early trading to 104.88. The stock has traded as high as 120 and as low as 22.56 since going pubic.