Welcome to the fourteenth issue of the OPN Partner Enablement Update! You'll notice by the title, we have changed the name of this update to more accurately reflect its contents. The update tells you about new Oracle training and other resources for the business development managers, consultants, and developers in your Oracle businesses.

Remember, you must be logged into the Oracle PartnerNetwork before accessing most of the links included in this update.

Topics for this month include:

  Oracle Announces General Availability of Oracle Secure Backup
(April 26, 2006)

  Collaboration Suite 10.1.2.3 Patch Release (Solaris SPARC 64 & Linux)
(May 9, 2006) - Go to Metalink, Note 361082.1

  Oracle Unveils Oracle Berkeley DB Java Edition 3.0
(May 17, 2006)

  Oracle Announces Oracle Daily Business Intelligence for Compliance
(May 8, 2006)

  Oracle Delivers Enhanced RFID Technology in Oracle Fusion Middleware
(May 3, 2006)

  Oracle PartnerNetwork Newsletter (April 2006)
Here's where you'll find updates on tools, resources, events, and opportunities available to you through Oracle PartnerNetwork to help you build, grow, and promote your business with Oracle.

  Quarterly Updates from Marketing
These updates are available on www.oracle.com. Quarterly updates are available for Financials, Human Capital Management, Supply Chain Management, CRM, and Procurement.

  Oracle Publications
Find interesting articles on products, trends, partners and customers in Oracle publications. Profit is focused on applications, while Oracle Magazine is more general with a greater focus on technology. Here are links to the sections dedicated to partners in each of the latest issues:

• Oracle Magazine Partner News (May/June 2006)
• Profit Magazine Partner News (May 2006)

  Podcasts from AppsMarketing
Oracle's AppCasts lets you hear from customers, partners, and product and industry experts about industry, application and technology best practices that help in decision making for Oracle applications. To hear the latest AppCasts, click here, or if you are a subscriber to iTunes, Yahoo Podcasts or any other RSS Feed, you can download them to your MP3 player. The most recent topics include the following (note: they are MP3 files):

• Oracle's Fusion User Experience is a Key Ingredient to their Customers' Success
• JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Offers Extended Value for Customers and Continued Commitment to New Small and Midsize Customers
• Oracle Integrates E-Business Suite with Google Search Appliance
• Oracle and BearingPoint Bring Value to Professional Services Customers
• PeopleSoft Applications Key Performance Improvements, Tuning Tips and Customer Benefits

  Oracle Technology News

Oracle Database

• Oracle Database 10g Standard Edition One Provides Small and Midsize Businesses with Enterprise-Level Performance, Scalability for Growth
• Oracle Database 10g Standard Edition One Attracts Large Following of SMBs Looking for Secure, Reliable, Cost-Effective Database Software
• Gartner 2005 Database Market Report - Oracle Database at 48.6% market share
• IDC 2005 Database Market Report - Oracle Database at 44.6% market share
• Edison Group: Oracle Database 10g and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 manageability
• IDC: Oracle an ILM "Thought Leader"
• eWeek Product Review: "10g Does More, Demands Less" and "Change is Good for SQL Server 2005" head to head comparison shows Oracle sets the bar for manageability and uptime
• Oracle Database 10g Express Edition was presented "Best Database Solution" at the Boston LinuxWorld Conference
• Oracle Database Sets New World Record for Two-Tier SAP Sales and Distribution Standard Application Benchmark Running Linux on Fujitsu PrimeQuest 480
• Oracle Sets World Record in Performance on Bull NovaScale Server for a 32 CPU System with TPC-H One Terabyte Benchmark
• Oracle Magazine
• From Application Express to XE Featured Article
• Oracle on Windows Special Edition
• Iseminars from Database Marketing
• Oracle and .NET
Oracle Database for Windows
• Oracle on Windows Overview
• Technology Podcasts
• Oracle Secure Enterprise Search 10g Uncovered (mp3)
• SQL Developer: Beyond the Command Line (mp3)
• Webcasts
• Oracle-Sun CIO Webcast, "Planning to Build a Large Data Warehouse?"
• DMReview-Oracle Partitioning

Oracle Fusion Middleware

• Oracle SOA Suite (Java Developers Journal - May 8, 2006)
• Oracle's BAM Removes Dashboard Complexity (CRN - April 18, 2006)
• SOA Web Services Journal: BPEL Processes and Human Workflow (Web Services Journal - April 2006)
• Virgin Atlantic Airways uses RFID to Track Assets Logistics Today (April 14, 2006)
• Certified Fusion: Oracle's Hidden Business Case (Optimize - April 2006)

  Partner Training and Event Calendar
Many new training and other partner events have been added to this valuable resource.

  Hear Doug Kennedy Speak on Applications Unlimited
Applications Unlimited is a commitment to individual product line enhancements even after the delivery of Fusion Applications. "We are giving customers the best of both worlds-more value from their existing applications, which we plan to continuously enhance, and an option to migrate free of charge to future technologies, if the customer determines there is a business case to do so," says Oracle President Charles Phillips. For partners, this significantly expands the opportunities for you to address your customers' business challenges. Access Doug Kennedy's webcast replay and read his blog. Review program details.

  AIM Advantage 3.1.0
The E-Business Suite Application Implementation Methodology - AIM Advantage 3.1.0 - is now available on the Development tab of the OPN Portal. This is a point release of AIM Advantage 3.0 featuring a new, simplified HTML user interface that provides improved compatibility/usability with current browser software.

  EMM Advantage 2.1 - First time availability for OPN members!
The EMM (EasiPath Migration Method) Advantage 2.1 tool, available on the Development tab of the OPN Portal, enables partners to migrate to the latest version of EBS. This is particularly important for fusion readiness.

  Application Integration Validation
Updated information on the benefits of the Applications Integration Initiative is available here. ISVs in OPN are rapidly taking advantage of the OPN Applications Integration Initiative, which provides validation for the integration of partner products with the Oracle E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft Enterprise, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, and JD Edwards World product lines. (Siebel and Siebel OnDemand integration validation coming soon.)

  Guided Learning Paths and Assessment Tests for Applications

New E-Business Suite Special Edition Guided Learning Paths

• Oracle 11i Applications Technology Certified Professional Administrator for EBS SE
• Oracle 11i CRM-Supply Chain Certified Professional Consultant for EBS SE
• Oracle 11i Financials Certified Professional Consultant for EBS SE
• Oracle 11i Manufacturing-Supply Chain Certified Professional Consultant for EBS SE

Updated E-Business Suite Guided Learning Paths

• Oracle 11i Applications Technology Certified Professional Administrator
• Oracle 11i CRM-Supply Chain Certified Professional Consultant
• Oracle 11i Financials Certified Professional Consultant
• Oracle 11i Manufacturing-Supply Chain Certified Professional Consultant

Updated JD Edwards Implementation Champion Guided Learning Paths

• JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Financial Management
• JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Supply Chain Management - Manufacturing
• JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Supply Chain Management - Distribution

New JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Implementation Champion Assessment Tests

• Financial Management
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Supply Chain Management - Distribution
• Supply Chain Management - Manufacturing
• Technology Foundation
• Technical Foundation

New PeopleSoft 8 Implementation Champion Assessment Tests

• Certified Developer
• Enterprise Performance Management
• Financial Management
• Human Capital Management
• Human Capital Management - International
• PeopleTools
• Supply Chain Management
• Student Administration
• Technology
• Customer Relationship Management
• Customer Relationship Management - Vantive

  JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Product Focus
The JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Product Focus page has been updated with new information, including a new link - JD Edwards Support and Critical Account Escalations. This page contains information how to maximizing the value of JD Edwards Support and how to effectively engage the Oracle Critical Accounts time. You will find this link if you are registered in the JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Product Focus.

  SMB Applications eSeminars
New e-seminar sessions have been added to this series to help Sales Representatives, Sales Consultants, and Partners, position, sell, and compete in application opportunities in small to medium size businesses.

  Application Global Spotlight eSeminars
Many new additions have been made to the Application Global Spotlight eSeminars page. This is a series of periodic product updates to help Sales Representatives, Sales Consultants, and Partners, position, sell, and compete in application opportunities.

  Oracle Fusion Middleware Product Focus Updates
Many updates have been made to the pages associated with this Product Focus including new training courses, partner and customer success stories, FAQs, white papers and links to webcasts such as the Business Intelligence and Analytics Event. A few of new sales tools for Oracle Fusion Middleware include:

• Oracle Application Server 10g Release 2 FAQ (pdf)
• Oracle Application Server - Application Platform Suite, The Industry's Most Comprehensive and Cohesive Platform for Service-Oriented Computing (pdf)

To access all of the enablement information, be sure to join the Oracle Fusion Middleware Product Focus.

  Oracle Service Oriented Architecture Initiative
Updates to training courses, tools and success stories and research reports are available through the SOA Initiative. In addition, partners with a success story on the deployment of a solution that leverages the Oracle Fusion Middleware family are eligible to promote your expertise and successes to Oracle field sales and technical consultants, and partners in a partner version of TechUnplugged. ISVs that have successfully integrated or embedded an Oracle Fusion Middleware product(s) with your application also qualify. Join the SOA Initiative to take advantage of these added benefits.

  Database Product Focus
The Database Product Focus pages are in the process of being re-designed and updated to provide added value to partners. Recently completed page updates include the introductory page identifying how to join the Database Product Focus, new information on Oracle Database Vault, and Oracle Secure Enterprise Search. Look for a new set of pages for partners declared in the Database Product Focus to be available in June.

  Enterprise Manager Grid Control Product Focus
Through participation in this Product Focus, partners are working closely with Oracle to develop a wide-ranging set of plug-ins and Management Connectors to increase the value of Oracle's management product suite and reduce the cost and complexity of managing enterprise systems. Nortel Networks Alteon Application Switch plug-in for Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control is the latest example of partners taking advantage of the services and resources offered through this Product Focus. A list of available partner plug-ins can be found here. Join the Enterprise Manager Grid Control Product Focus to access the updated resources available now.

  New Marketing Kits Available
New Marketing Kits available on the OPN Portal include:

• Oracle Human Capital Management
• PeopleSoft Human Capital Management
• PeopleSoft Enterprise Performance Management
• PeopleSoft Financial Management Systems
• JD Edwards Demand Driven Manufacturing
• Oracle Procurement

  Competitive Sales Kit Updates
A Microsoft Dynamics Competitive Sales Kit is now available on the Competitive Sales Kit link on the Sales tab of OPN Portal. In addition, you will find competitive intelligence reports on SMB competitors such as IFS, Infor, Lawson, Microsoft, Sage, SAP Business One & All-In-One, Salesforce.com One, and SSA.

  New Sales Kits Available
New or updated sales kits are available for Oracle Database 10g Standard Edition and Oracle Secure Enterprise Search 10g under Database Sales Kits.

  Pricing & Licensing Updates
Many new updates were made to the price list. Read about the changes in the Pricing & Licensing Update memos available here. Some changes include:

Technology

• New Database Options Products - Database Vault & Warehouse Builder
• Business Intelligence Products Update
• Xellerate Identity Provisioning Connector Updates
• Oracle Secure Backup Shipping

Applications

• JD Edwards Solution Price List Update
• JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Updates
• Siebel CRM Enterprise and OnDemand Price Lists Updates
• Siebel Ordering Documents
• Siebel Price Lists Updates
• Oracle Applications Controlled Availability Price List
• Oracle Process Manufacturing
• Oracle Profitability Manager

General

• Partner license fee where the end user customer has a valid corporate agreement or contractual price hold directly with Oracle
• VAD Designation Letter

  OPN Online Marketing Plan Tool Decommissioned
On June 1, 2006, OPN will decommission use of the Online Marketing Plan tool. Please do not create any new marketing plans using this tool. We also recommend that you download or print any existing marketing plan content that you have entered into the Online Marketing Plan tool as soon as possible, and in any event, no later than June 1, 2006.

  New AppsUnplugged Sales Training Available
The AppsUnplugged series continues to add product specific selling and positioning courses. The following courses recently became available:

• AppsUnplugged: Corporate Performance Management
• AppsUnplugged: Learning Management
• AppsUnplugged: Process Manufacturing
• AppsUnplugged: Segregation of Duties Management - Compliance Implementation Best Practices
• Conquering Compliance: Change Management and Segregation of Duties Best Practices (available soon)

See AppsUnplugged on the OPN Education page for details.

  New PeopleSoft Unplugged Sales Training Available
The PeopleSoft Enterprise Unplugged series continues to add selling and positioning courses. The following course recently became available:

• Enterprise-EnterpriseOne Unplugged: PeopleSoft ePerformance

See PeopleSoft Enterprise Unplugged on the OPN Education page for details.

  New TechUnplugged Sales Training Available
The TechUnplugged series continues to add selling and positioning courses. The following course recently became available:

• TechUnplugged: Security & Compliance - Sneak-preview: what you need to know about next week's Oracle Database Vault Launch!

See TechUnplugged on the OPN Education page for details.

  Free Technical Courses Offered by NAS Partner Technology Center
The North America Sales Partner Technology Center team offers free technical training workshops. The May/June schedule includes workshops on Business Intelligence. Below are the dates for the workshops.

Please click here for complete information and registration.

  Free BPEL Workshops
This FREE 2 day workshop provides attendees with hands-on experience using Oracle BPEL Process Manager, a standard-based infrastructure for orchestrating services and people activities into easy-to-change process flows.

Access the complete details and course agenda through June 2006 here.

  Global ISV Forum
The Global ISV Forum will take place June 9-10, 2006 in Redwood Shores, California. Oracle executives will discuss applications and technology issues that impact ISV strategy, integrations and implementations. Please contact your regional Alliances & Channels account manager for additional information on this invitation-only event.

  EMEA 10g OCP Programmes from Oracle University
Oracle University in EMEA is running a series of 10g OCP courses in various cities throughout Europe. Click on the links below and find a course that works for you!

• 9i - 10g OCP Upgrade Program (for 9i OCPs) - Next session October 23, 2006 DeMeern, NL
• 9i Review Program (for experienced 9i DBAs) - Next session June 26-30, 2006, Dusseldorf, DE

  EMEA OPN Days
The OPN Days Tour is once again visiting cities in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Make sure you attend an OPN Day near you. Click here for more information available on the OPN Portal.

• October 10th - Madrid, Spain - Coming Soon
• November 13th - Birmingham, UK - Details
• December 13th - Dubai, UAE - Coming Soon

  APAC SOA Workshop - Australia
The Oracle Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) Workshop is a strategic initiative designed to enable Oracle partners in Australia competent in Oracle Fusion Middleware, to significantly grow your business by leveraging the SOA capabilities. This 3 days hands on workshop to take place June 26-28, 2006 (TBC) will encompass best practices, information sharing and knowledge transfer from Oracle Asia Pacific Product Technology Services team. For further information, please contact helen.selvanathan@oracle.com.

1. Oracle SOA for Partner Success: Best Practices for Adopting SOA
   Edwin Khodabakchian, Vice President, Product Development (Oracle Fusion Middleware) for the Oracle Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) Suite will discuss best practices on adopting SOA for partners and customers, implications of SOA for new business applications, and real world examples of the use of SOA. This one-hour webinar on June 8th and 9th features a live demonstration and Q&A. To learn about upcoming events, or watch a replay, please visit Oracle SOA for Partner Success. To ensure participation in this particular event, pre-register here.
   
   
2. Building Secure Applications - Marrying Infrastructure, Tools and Secure Coding Techniques to Hack-Proof Applications!
   Listen to this webcast to learn how you can address your customers' increasing concerns about security in this era of Web-enabled applications and SOA. To join this conference on June 2nd at 8:30am PDT, click here.
   
   
3. New MetaLink Capability! My Configurations & Projects (MCP)
   My Configurations & Projects (MCP) is a new MetaLink capability that automates the information exchange between Oracle Support and our customers through: proactive avoidance of problems; simplified Service Request submission; streamlined problem resolution; detailed configuration and settings view with history; and improved communication of your business needs. Join this webcast on May 30th at 1:00pm PDT. Dial Up: 1-888-315-1435 (International - 1-773-779-3673) Passcode :34306 / Web: http://ou.oracle.com and go to the Join Conference area * Plug in the Conference id - 45048177 * Plug in the Conference Key - 34306 * Plug in Your Name and other details hit Join Conference.
   
   
4. Upgrading Using the Maintenance Wizard
   The Maintenance Wizard is a new, powerful upgrade assistance tool to transition you and your customers effectively to the latest E-Business Suite and Technology versions. Customers are guided through a methodical and repeatable Upgrade Project. To hear about the Maintenance Wizard, join this webcast on June 27th at 1:00pm PDT. Dial Up: 1-888-315-1435 (International - 1-773-779-3673) Passcode :34307 / Web: http://ou.oracle.com and go to the Join Conference area * Plug in the Conference id - 45050515 * Plug in the Conference Key - 34307 * Plug in Your Name and other details hit Join Conference.
   
   
5. Case Study: Sierra Atlantic (SI) Solution for Discrete Manufacturing on Oracle Fusion Middleware
   This seminar on June 1st at 9:30am PDT will highlight how Oracle BPEL Process Manager is used to build modern SOA based solutions and a case study of Sierra Atlantic's solution. To register, click here.
   
   
6. RAC, ASM and Clusterware Technical Webcast Series
   This series of webcasts is scheduled through August 2006. Following is the list of upcoming webcasts. All times are 9:00am-11:00am PST/PDT.
   • You've bought RAC, now how do you actually achieve HA? - June 8th
   • Implementing SAP on 10g RAC & using SAPCTL monitor from Oracle Clusterware - June 22nd
   • RAC Benchmarks - July 18th
   • RAC for Beginners - The Basics - July 20th
   To register for upcoming webcasts or to view replays of previous webcasts click here.
   
   
7. Oracle Webcasts
   Oracle Corporation hosts Webcast that are generally available to the public. The list of upcoming webcasts and replays can be found here.

As of May 24th, Oracle University has added 100 new courses for partners in May 2006. You can access the courses through the online training catalogs on OPN. Remember that access to the Oracle University Online library is available at no cost to members of the Oracle PartnerNetwork.

Check out the list of May's titles below:

That's it for June 2006! See you next month!

If you have questions or comments about this training update you may send them to opninfo_us@oracle.com.

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