A few analyst firms recently got gobbled up. Notably, Yankee Group bought Trendsmedia, which produces (among other things) research on broadband and wifi, err wimax emerging doodling. The other one I note is the Harte-Hanks hug of Aberdeen Group. The new group, HHAG, is being reported as a good method for the company to deliver leads to its clients. In the press release, Gary Skidmore (HH VP) says of Aberdeen

“The results of Aberdeen’s intelligence – fact-based reports on current marketplace experiences and trends – are used to generate qualified leads by its clients, and we believe this intelligence will assist our clients significantly in their own marketing efforts.”

So this is supposed to correspond well with HH’s Ci tech database, which it describes as

“Unlike general marketing database and list companies, we focus exclusively on profiling the largest opportunities and most important decision makers in the technology marketplace.”

It does sound like quite the synthesis and though not connected, analysts, rumour has it, have departed. But then analysis tends to do that–break things apart.