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FIERCE RIVALS EMC, IBM TO INCREASE COMPATIBILITY

EMC Corp and IBM, fierce rivals in the data storage market, said they would expand their products' interoperability in an effort to help customers who want to mix both products from the two companies.

The two companies said they had agreed to a framework for exchanging programming interfaces, and to extend their cooperation serving customers who mix servers, storage and software products from the two companies.

Players in the data storage industry, facing pressure from cost-conscious customers who want to mix and match products from different vendors, have been making bilateral agreements to increase their products' compatibility. The industry is also working on standards that would make it easier for customers to mix products.

Shares of EMC were up 16 cents at $13.57 in trading Monday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange. IBM shares were up 83 cents at $91.47.