This month, IBM Rational released a major set of new products and updates for the IBM Software Development Platform, a complete and modular platform for teams who build business applications, embedded systems, and software products. The new tools and enhancements make it easier for development organizations to build, extend, integrate, modernize, and deploy software and software-based systems in an On Demand environment.

In addition, new Eclipse-based plug-ins are under development through a "Ready for Rational" program that helps independent software vendors create tools that complement those in the IBM Software Development Platform

http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/content/RationalEdge/oct04/datasheet/index.html