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

Consumer confidence tumbled to its lowest level since January 2021, the Conference Board reported at the end of March. The Trump administration's move to rewrite global trade has sent markets tumbling and businesses and consumers to seek cover. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)

Credit: NYT

‘Total chaos.’ Georgians scramble as tariffs shake the global economy

One of the first places consumers are likely to see the impact of the tariffs is the grocery store. But so many things Georgians purchase are imported.

1h ago

$19B data center campus called ‘Project Bunkhouse’ proposed in Georgia

Dozens of data center announcements have flooded the Atlanta area over the past few years, but the latest such proposal is poised to be the largest of them all.

2h ago

Another ‘above-normal’ hurricane season may be on the way, forecasters say

Ahead of the start of hurricane season on June 1, a new forecast predicts the Atlantic Basin will produce an above average number of tropical storms this year.

The Latest

Consumer confidence tumbled to its lowest level since January 2021, the Conference Board reported at the end of March. The Trump administration's move to rewrite global trade has sent markets tumbling and businesses and consumers to seek cover. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)

Credit: NYT

‘Total chaos.’ Georgians scramble as tariffs shake the global economy

1h ago

$19B data center campus called ‘Project Bunkhouse’ proposed in Georgia

2h ago

Blank donation to help sustain Atlanta Black entrepreneurship center

Featured

An aerial image shows the Atlanta skyline on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Atlanta is known for its trees. How far will it go to save them?

A new ordinance to protect Atlanta's trees could soon reach City Council for a vote, but it's not clear if key provisions will make it in.

Training center opponents vow to complicate 2025 city elections

Opponents of the law enforcement training center, known to some as "Cop City," told the AJC they promise to be a thorn in the side for Mayor Andre Dickens as he campaigns.

Watch out, spring breakers: Friday could break records at the Atlanta airport

TSA estimates Friday, April 4 is projected to see a record-breaking 115,000 Atlanta security screenings.