| It seems that Oracle and IBM will begin working together to offer interoperability with Oracle applications and with its Fusion product. Fusion is a major upgrade to Oracle's ERP applications that will include different features and pieces of PeopleSoft and JD Edwards. Oracle also said that the Fusion project would include the CRM applications from Siebel Systems.
Ellison said "We have yet to make a decision on whether the Fusion application suite will run on other databases." This statement is alarming to many of the existing PeopleSoft customers that are using other databases such as SQL Server or DB2. However, Ellison later mentioned that Oracle will be working closely with IBM and their DB2 database. Furthermore, Microsoft's SQL Server database might also be in the mix, according to Ellison.
But not many PeopleSoft customers running non-Oracle databases feel too secure about making a move to the new Fusion application. Although, Oracle has agreed to continue to support PeopleSoft and JDE products until its Fusion technology is fully integrated into an Oracle product line by 2013, many of its customers are considering third party support vendors such as Tomorrow Now. SAP was so intent on capturing or luring the minds and hearts of PeopleSoft and JD Edwards companies that it acquired TomorrowNow.
TomorrowNow Inc., is a company based in Bryan, Texas that provides third-party support for PeopleSoft and JDE applications. TomorrowNow offers to provide upgrades and fixes at the same level as customers would expect to get from the original software providers themselves. This includes major bug fixes along with required regulatory and tax code updates. However, they will support the products for up to 10 years after the product's general availability to the public.
With the fact that Oracle's Fusion product may not support all other databases currently being used by PeopleSoft and JD Edwards customers, and since there are many third party support and maintenance companies on the rise, I have to ask myself... Is Oracle doing enough to retain its customers?
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