INTEL Corp, deepening its foothold in the management software arena, has announced a technology and marketing alliance with software maker Platinum Technology Inc.

The Santa Clara chip giant also made an undisclosed investment in Platinum of less than 5 per cent of Platinum's stock.

Platinum's software connects different types of computers on networks and manages networks. The two companies say they would co-operate to integrate, market and develop their management software products. Platinum will port Intel's LANDesk Configuration Manager, a management software tool, to run on varying computer systems. Intel will license Platinum's Open Enterprise Management Services (POEMS) integration technology for LANDesk. Executives of both companies expect commercial products based on the deal to start rolling out in the first half of this year. The alliance helps Intel broaden its reach into the software management business.

For Platinum, Intel's equity stake and marketing alliance lends a stamp of approval. The alliance should help Platinum gain market share against competitors such as Computer Associates and IBM's Tivoli Systems, analysts say.

"Intel's endorsement of Platinum's strategy will absolutely get the attention of customers," says Mr Wendell Laidley, an analyst at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell. "Intel is Platinum's calling card to a broad base of Intel's OEMs (original equipment manufacturers)," such as Compaq Computer Corp, Gateway 2000 and Dell Computer Corp, he says. Mr Frank Gill, Intel's executive vice-president, says Intel has no plans to acquire Platinum outright.