Last month Misys and Temenos said they were working on a merger that would create the largest vendor of banking software.

Sony Corp said it hopes to become the world's second- largest vendor of tablet devices by 2012, but failed to show anything.

The company said that Bull Ireland, the combined Cara and Bull operation, is now the fourth largest vendor in the Irish marketplace.

Founded by former Russian intelligence official Eugene Kaspersky and his wife Natalya in 1997, it became the third- largest vendor of consumer IT software worldwide.

It also said it has lined up $130 million in new financing, including support from Harbin and International Vitamin Corp, its largest vendor.

Sales are rising, but even the largest vendors are finding the going tough because intense competitive pressure keeps forcing prices down.