Oracle Core Technology
With Peter Perregaard, Vice President, Oracle Technology, Oracle EMEA

With the recent launch of version 10g, Oracle's core technology stack of database and application server has reached levels of sophistication that make it the ideal platform for today's enterprise software applications - and tomorrow's.

In this article I will look at the benefits that ISVs can gain from developing with Oracle technology, and outline how the Oracle platform sets you in better stead to meet customer demand than the technologies you may be using currently.

Today's ISVs should be aiming to satisfy the widest possible base of customers within their target sectors. Markets are starting to recover from the technology downturn of recent years, and those vendors that are able to move the most quickly to satisfy the increasing demand will be the winners. Software suppliers should ensure that they are not missing opportunities through self-imposed restrictions.

For example, offering the broadest possible choice of operating system support is going to be crucial in the next few months and beyond. Demand for Linux-based solutions is increasing exponentially, particularly in the public sectors, but also in many commercial sectors. Vendors who cannot provide a Linux version risk losing important deals. Similarly, focusing purely on .Net closes the door on any opportunities where a Java-based middle tier is a key requirement. Choosing Oracle as the underlying technology platform enables you to develop quickly and easily for the widest possible range of platforms: Windows, Linux, all the major flavours of Unix, .Net and J2EE.


"ISVs choosing Oracle can cater to the smallest and largest customers, with no scalability problems either way."


Catering to a broad array of computing platforms is not the only way that ISVs can use Oracle to capitalise on increased IT spending. Historically, ISVs may have dismissed Oracle as an inappropriate platform for small customers. Oracle has been perceived as too big, too expensive and too complicated for the lower end of the market. The launch of Oracle Standard Edition One should sweep away those perceptions. Now, the world's leading modern relational database is available for just $149 (€125) per named user, or $4,995 (€4,192) for a license for up to two processors. This brings the list price of a five named-user implementation to just $745 (€625), and the software comes on just one CD. ISVs choosing Oracle can now cater to the smallest and largest customers, with no scalability problems either way.

With 10g, we have made it much easier for ISVs to manage and install the Oracle database. Architectural improvements mean that Oracle Database 10g installs itself "silently" and configures itself automatically as part of the overall application implementation. The database tier can be up and running in 30 minutes, meaning rapid, trouble-free customer installations.

The breadth of functionality of the Oracle technology stack is another important plus point for ISVs. All over the IT industry we are seeing technology consolidation, and the vendors that offer "suites" of functionality are winning out over the "point" vendors. The classic example is Microsoft Office, which has won the battle for the professional desktop, but it is a trend that is occurring everywhere. Application Servers are a good example. Two years ago, an application server was not much more than a Java engine, and any additional functionality - portals, business intelligence, security, single sign-on and so on, had to be developed or bought separately.

At Oracle we believe we have led the way in re-defining what an application server should be capable of. There is a huge range of functionality included within our application server - functionality that other vendors either license separately or simply cannot provide. ISVs using Oracle Application Server benefit from one license fee, one pre-integrated suite of functionality and one relationship with a financially viable vendor. ISVs who are currently relying on multiple vendors and products for their application server tier should investigate the cost and time savings they could realise by sourcing the entire tier from Oracle.


"Thirty years ago, software vendors invested huge amounts of time and money in developing their own databases and operating systems. No one would do that today."


It may be that you have chosen to develop your own technology components, rather than source them from a third-party vendor. We at Oracle would caution against this. There is little to be gained from putting time, money and effort into developing technologies that have already become commonly-available commodities. Customers increasingly expect applications to run in a portal, for example, and are not going to pay over the odds for you to develop and manage a portal interface for them. The same is true of security components, analysis and reporting features, and so on. Thirty years ago, software vendors invested huge amounts of time and money in developing their own databases and operating systems. No one would do that today - it would take years of effort for no financial return. The same is now becoming true of application servers. In order to bring the best software to market in the fastest possible time, ISVs should focus on their core product and source the underlying commodity technology from an expert third-party.

Oracle's Application Server is fast becoming the platform of choice for organisations in EMEA. The Oracle customer base has now outstripped BEA's, and is rated by analyst firm IDC as the fastest growing in Western Europe, with a growth rate of 15.7% for 2002. The 10,000+ Oracle Application Server customers in Europe present a ready-made opportunity for ISVs choosing Oracle as their middle tier. If an organisation already has the Oracle Application Server in place, the cost of installation for the ISV is greatly reduced, the timescale of the implementation can be cut significantly, and the customer benefits from easy and rapid integration between the new application and existing applications using the same application server.

Oracle offers a wide range of services for ISVs looking to evaluate or migrate to an Oracle technology platform. A good place to start is by watching our Application Server for ISVs webcasts, or attending one of the Oracle Migration Workshops that we are planning to roll out over the next few months. Vendors joining the Oracle PartnerNetwork will have access to free migration services, toolkits and Oracle technical experts to help them make the transition.

I hope that this article will have encouraged you to evaluate what Oracle has to offer and consider how the Oracle technology stack could help your business. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like any further information - we will be only too happy to assist.

Related Articles

Oracle Cuts Standard Edition One Pricing
Oracle Announces Oracle Database 10g (February 2004)
Oracle Application Server 10g Goes Production (February 2004)
Oracle Application Server Fastest on Linux (February 2004)

Related Press Releases

Oracle Grows Fastest in Western European Application Server Market (July 2003)