IBM Service Management next week is hosting its first global conference that in essence brings together the end-user communities of three acquired management software makers: Tivoli Systems, Micromuse and MRO Software.

Some may forget that Tivoli was once a hot start-up in the systems management space headed up by Frank Moss, and in 1996 IBM laid down $743 million to pick up the nimble software maker to augment its distributed systems management products. Then nearly 10 years later, IBM bid $865 million for the network management expertise Micromuse poured into its Netcool product suite. Later in 2006, IBM also picked up asset management capabilities for $740 million when it acquired MRO Software and its Maximo products.

Those are just a few of IBM's many software acquisitions -- in fact since 1996 IBM reports integrating more than 20 acquisitions into what is now its Tivoli portfolio -- but these three in particular are the basis for Big Blue's Pulse 2008: Premier Service Management Event being held in Orlando May 18-22. IBM bigwigs such as Steve Mills will speak to attendees alongside celebrities such as Liz Smith and athlete Lance Armstrong on the opening day of the conference. The Pulse 2008 inaugural event features course tracks on: enterprise asset management; service assurance; service availability and performance management; service delivery and process automation; security, risk management and compliance; and storage management.

IBM has hosted shows around its management technology in the past, but this is the first time the vendor is bringing together the three customer bases to explore a broader look at using various management technologies to achieve optimal service management. With product updates expected, Big Blue should deliver some interesting news on how it is taking on virtualization, automation and IT process improvements. IBM expects 4,000 IBM employees, customers and business partners at the event.

Look for updates from me in Orlando on IBM's Pulse 2008 next week.