IBM announced Tuesday that it plans to buy out Transitive, a Los Gatos, Calif., software company that focuses on cross-platform virtualization technologies.

Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Businesses can use Transitive's technology to transition server workloads from proprietary Unix environments to open source environments or vice versa, with little or no modification to applications, according to IBM.

Transitive has won 48 patents for the technology. Transitive's customers include the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and King's College Hospital in London.

IBM said the deal will bolster its ability to offer products and services that help customers maximize efficiency and productivity in their data centers. Customers could use Transitive's technology to consolidate applications from underutilized servers onto IBM Power systems or even mainframes.

IBM has been on something of an acquisition binge this year.

In July, the company announced its intention to acquire ILOG, a French developer of software that helps businesses manage logistics and back-office operations, for $340 million.

Earlier this year, the company disclosed its purchase of XIV, a Tel Aviv-based manufacturer of high-performance digital storage systems. It has also announced buyouts of Net Integration Technologies and AptSoft, as well as FilesX -- an Israeli developer of software that controls digital storage systems and protects corporate data.

IBM in 2007 announced nine acquisitions, including a $5 billion deal to acquire business intelligence software developer Cognos. IBM has disclosed or completed at least 13 acquisitions so far in 2008.

The moves are seen as part of the company's effort to increase its portfolio of tools and services that support enterprises' business and Internet operations.