Oblix? Buying Confluent?
Knowing both of these companies, and people working at them, I was initially confused by the announcement of this acquisition. Why would Oblix purchase Confluent?

Oblix is the maker of software to manage user identites within large distributed software systems. Confluent provides a web-services security management solution. It seemed to me that there must be some common thread … and then I found this article:

U.S. Postal Service taps Oblix for identity management
It’s designed to allow the Postal Service to manage millions of user identities
Briefs by Linda Rosencrance

FEBRUARY 04, 2004 ( COMPUTERWORLD ) – The U.S. Postal Service has selected Oblix Inc.’s NetPoint to give online customers secure and password-protected Web access via single sign-on to software tools and resources.

Once fully deployed, NetPoint will offer business customers and consumers a simple and collaborative interface through Web services, Cupertino, Calif.-based Oblix said in a statement.

Ok … now it makes sense. Oblix lands a large government contract … is adopting web services standards in their product … and immediately requires security for this solution!

Nice project to land … congrats to Oblix *and* Confluent!

Oblix buys into Web services management. The maker of identity management software plans to acquire Web services management start-up Confluent Software, accelerating consolidation in the marketplace, CNET News.com has learned. [CNET News.com – Front Door]