What’s the next appliance you see for your running your business ? If Larry Ellison has his way it may be an Oracle Appliance. This would consist of the oracle technology stack software coupled with Sun delivered on some kind of hardware box (something like an HP maybe..?)
When I was at IBM they were marketing a web appliance specifically created for car dealerships to run their business. The concept behind the appliance was that IBM would supply all the hardware, software and the professional services that this specific vertical required. That was several years before it time I reckon as this project crashed and burned. IBM installed an OS, all the required software all on a piece of hardware that they provided. They would host and manage the services required for car dealerships to do their business with. This even included EDI data, order information, internal and external intranet and extranet and even a platform for collaboration. All you do is plug it into your internet connection and you were up and running.
With all the verticals that enterprise software covers especially with stack of Oracle technology of applications, framework, OS and database it seems that it may be primed to acquire a competent hardware player such as Dell, HP or maybe someone like an AMD, Acer or Lenovo. This would complete the missing piece that an appliance would be required. Knowing Ellison’s character a partnership for him would not make sense he would buy the company straight out and install the Oracle stack and voila a totally self contained appliance. Since HP has purchased Palm this acquisition would also include a premade mobile strategy with possible Sun technology. All the pieces can easily fall into place. Oracle hosted managed services and a new source of support and maintenance revenue. This will be yet another source of income that Oracle can add to their portfolio.
This could possibly be a new way for enterprise vendors to share revenues with a hardware partner to provide entire turnkey solutions. This may fulfill the promise of true rapid implementation and cost reductions for organizations. Enterprise software both on premise, cloud and SaaS can be sold this way and behind your own firewall thus relieving some security concerns.
But enough speculation..it’s just a passing thought. Remember you saw it here first..
I think a bigger question were this to happen is what would happen to Leo, he will no longer be thorn in Oracle’s side. This is a commentary and possible prediction only and no way represents the opinions of Oracle, vendors or Persons mentioned.
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