Business
Business

Stretching Cobb weather HQ: What IBM plans for Weather.com, apps

By Matt Kempner
Oct 30, 2015

Weather keeps poking its rainy, sunny, chilly, windy face into our business.

And we're about to find out whether a combo of one of the world's biggest tech companies with a weather forecasting powerhouse might change how industries operate.

IBM recently announced a deal to buy the digital and business-to-business forecasting side of Cobb County-based Weather Company, the parent of the Weather Channel. (IBM isn’t buying the Weather Channel, which will remain on its own for the moment at least.)

The purchase, which includes weather.com and related apps and other operations, hints at new ways consumers might be impacted by business capitalizing on more access to localized weather predictions. In the future, makers of self-driving cars could set the vehicles to react to what conditions are ahead. Retailers could rearrange what they do. Our alarms clocks could wake us early if rain threatens the morning commute.

ExploreCheck out more of what’s ahead, including questions about how IBM will deal with regular consumers, in the latest Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

Follow Matt Kempner on facebookFollow Matt Kempner on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

John and Barbara Spence Orsolits pose in their porch on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Both Delta retirees, they are concerned about the economy and have decided to cut back on their planned trips in the coming years. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

‘Waiting and seeing.’ Georgians putting off purchases amid wild economic swings

Georgia consumers are unnerved by plummeting stock prices, a trade war, job cuts, inflation and growing fears of recession and their shrinking retirement account balances.

New site being studied for restaurants next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

A development with a collection of restaurants is envisioned between Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Georgia World Congress Center.

DATA SURGE

Data Center Alley has lessons to teach. Is metro Atlanta listening?

Northern Virginia has spent more than a decade unchallenged as the country’s top data center market. But Atlanta has recently risen as a contender.

The Latest

A development with a collection of restaurants and other tenants is envisioned in what is currently a grassy area with concrete walkways called International Plaza. (John Spink/AJC 2023)

Credit: John Spink/AJC

New site being studied for restaurants next to Mercedes-Benz Stadium

DATA SURGE

Data Center Alley has lessons to teach. Is metro Atlanta listening?

Are you a scrappy business or developer? This $50M campaign is here to help.

Featured

Bumper to bumper traffic travels northbound on the I-85 just past the I-285 overpass, also known as Spaghetti Junction, in Doraville. In late May and June of this year, several drivers have pulled out weapons and fired guns at other motorists on metro Atlanta roadways. (Jason Getz/AJC 2023)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Metro Atlanta road rage: Routine drives can quickly turn violent, experts say

‘Power mad’: Why a far-right Georgia GOP faction is splintering

Defections from a far-right faction within the Georgia's Republican Party show it is losing influence in state politics.

Jake Paul’s $39 million Georgia property is fit for a ‘big kid,’ broker says

Social media influencer and professional boxer Jake Paul said much of the $39 million he paid to buy a massive South Georgia property in April came from fighting Mike Tyson