Intel acquires Mashery API manager

Intel has acquired Mashery, a company that develops management tools for web and on-premise APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). The tools are offered as a cloud service as well as locally ("Mashery Local"), and third parties can use them to access their own APIs. Components include caching features, security tools, dashboards, and options for generating API usage reports.

The acquisition supports the efforts of Intel – a company that is mainly known as a chip manufacturer – to build a reputation as a service provider in other IT areas. After taking over Wind River in 2009 and McAfee in 2010, Intel only recently acquired various developer tools for programming, distributing and testing web apps and hybrid apps; the company is now offering these tools free of charge as a service in its Developer Zone. Since February, Intel has also offered a Hadoop distribution that is primarily intended for use with its Xeon processors.

Mashery will be incorporated into Intel's Service Division, which was launched in 2011 and is part of Intel's Software and Services Group. Intel plans to use the Mashery technologies it has added to its portfolio to build a suite of services for managing cloud services, for online stores, geolocation services, and for network and security services.

Mashery customers include Coca Cola, Comcast, Expedia, Best Buy, Patch.com and USA Today. The company was founded in 2006 and has over 120 employees, most of which – Intel says – will be kept on. No financial details of the acquisition of the privately owned company have been disclosed.

(sno)