OpenWorld: Apps Integration, Virtualization Top Phillips' To-Do List

During his Oracle OpenWorld keynote this morning, Phillips said Oracle VM provides server virtualization on Linux for Oracle and third-party applications.

Based on the open-source Xen hypervisor technology and incorporating a browser-based management console, Oracle VM creates and manages virtual server pools. It's scheduled to be available for free download starting Nov. 14 with support fees of $499 per year for two CPUs and $999 per year for unlimited CPUs.

Phillips also said Oracle would continue its practice of acquiring innovative software companies -- 41 in the last 45 months. "Anyone remotely thinking about selling their company is coming to us," he joked. "We've become the IPO market for the enterprise software industry."

Oracle Application Integration Architecture (AIA) is Oracle's technology for integrating its broad line of disparate applications, including those from its PeopleSoft, Siebel and JD Edwards acquisitions, with each other as well as with third-party and custom applications. The technology is critical: Even if Oracle makes its deadline to ship its Fusion line of unified applications in 2008, Oracle customers will likely be integrating the company's applications for years.

"We want to be responsible for taking that integration problem off your shoulders. Let us handle that," Phillips said.

Joined by Chuck Rozwat, executive vice president of product development, Phillips announced AIA Foundation Pack, a collection of pre-built models built on Oracle's SOA Suite technology that define specific business process workflows to aid in application integration. The software is scheduled to be available in 30 days.

Oracle also has launched an AIA for Partners Initiative under which members of the Oracle PartnerNetwork, particularly systems integrators, are given access to Oracle tools and best practices to build integrated Oracle application solutions for their customers.

Phillips also announced an AIA for SAP initiative to develop integration packs that link Oracle and SAP applications. Some are available now, such as integration tools for SAP CRM, transportation management and product lifecycle management software, while others for consumer packaged goods and process manufacturing will ship in 2008. Oracle also debuted specific process-integration packs for the communications industry for linking Oracle E-Business Suite and Siebel apps for order-to-bill, agent-assisted billing care and revenue counting workflows.

Later during the Oracle OpenWorld conference, Oracle executives are scheduled to provide details of Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g and Oracle Enterprise Manager 11g, both of which are currently in beta test and scheduled to debut next year.