Business intelligence vendor MicroStrategy is to launch Linux and Unix versions of its 7i enterprise platform later this year.

Mike Sayler, chairman and chief executive of MicroStrategy, said the company would add more statistical and data mining functionality to its portfolio, as well as better support for enterprise resource software from SAP.

Sanju Bansal, MicroStrategy's executive vice president and chief operating officer, added: "In the months ahead it is a top priority to grow and expand our relationships with our major partners.

"Later this year MicroStrategy will be launching a Linux and Unix version of its enterprise BI platform and in June or July we expect to release a Unix version of our platform's Intelligent Server."

But the company will not be following the acquisition strategy of many of its rivals in order to broaden its portfolio even further.

"We prefer to grow organically and feel building products ourselves is better," said Sayler.

"To acquire means lots of integration, and all forward planning for new products stops. A purchasing strategy is actually more expensive and risky than if you just build it yourself. We could buy analytical technical companies but would prefer to let our customers build their own."