IBM is going to start selling a thing called WebSpan, a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) integration platform, created by pushing its WebSphere integration software together with Hubspan's on-demand integration platform and forming a single-instance, multi-tenant SaaS integration platform.

It's supposed to reduce the cost, time and complexity associated with traditional integration and business process automation solutions.

IBM says there's a "critical need" to connect and integrate data and processes across a growing number of applications and business processes and that WebSpan is a new option to deploy business community networks, extend the reach of existing application and infrastructure investments, and accelerate service-oriented architecture (SOA) initiatives.

WebSpan can help reduce the cost of operating the integration infrastructure by providing management and maintenance directly within the integration platform.

It's available with software for e-procurement, demand/supply chain, e-payments, logistics and e-commerce integration.

IBM waves around Gartner's projection that SaaS enterprise application spending will reach $14.8 billion by 2012.

WebSpan's a la mode pricing will be subscription-based.

Hubspan's platform, which makes any-to-any connections across systems, applications and protocols, is already used by Boeing, Starbucks, Visa and Barnes & Noble.