Informatica Corp. claims that features in its upcoming PowerCenter 8 data integration software trump those offered by rival IBM.

But the folks at IBM, not so politely, disagree.

Analysts and users said the truth lies somewhere in the middle, depending on whether an IT organization needs the lighter, all-in-one functionality of Informatica or the heavier but more robust tools of IBM.

"Informatica is more like a Swiss Army Knife, and IBM is more like a toolbox," said Eric Rogge, an analyst at San Mateo, Calif.-based Ventana Research Inc. "If you"re going on a hike, you may not want to lug around a heavy toolbox. But if you"re building a house, you wouldn"t want to use a Swiss Army Knife."

Redwood City, Calif.-based Informatica and IBM"s information integration division -- bolstered by its acquisition of Ascential Software Corp. in April for US$1.1 billion -- are locked in a battle for supremacy in the growing global market for data integration software and services. IDC predicts that the market will grow to $13.6 billion in 2008 from $9.6 billion in 2003. Other leading competitors include Lexington, Mass.-based Ab Initio Inc. and Burlington, Mass.-based Sunopsis Inc.