IBM is expected to begin a beta test program for its data-integration software, including the flagship product of <A HREF="http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5758181.html?tag=zdnn.alert">recently acquired Ascential Software.</A> Big Blue bought Ascential in March for $1.1 billion and said that it intends to meld the company's software into IBM's existing line. Ascential's data integration programs are used to transport and "clean," or format, corporate data so that it can be stored in a single place and analyzed.