Oracle/IBM battle beyond the database

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
08/24/05

Dear security.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Oracle is building out its middleware portfolio and going
  head-to-head with IBM
* Links related to Networking Technology Update
* Featured reader resource
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NetworkWorld Special Report - The Adaptive WAN: The factors
driving WAN evolution

A combination of business and technology trends are changing the
demands on the enterprise WAN. This NetworkWorld Special Report
explores some of the key business and technology trends that are
driving and enabling the evolution of the enterprise WAN and how
the enterprise WAN can become adaptive to support these trends.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110881
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THE ROI OF VOIP

When it comes to VoIP, most network managers are satisfied that
the technology works. But there are questions: What will the new
technology cost to roll out and support, and what benefits can
companies expect to reap? Check out NW's step-by-step guide on
how to determine the true cost and benefits of VoIP. Click here:
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Today's focus:

Oracle/IBM battle beyond the database

By Jennifer Mears

No longer satisfied with its role as the corporate database
leader, Oracle
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/financial/oracle.html> has
been building out its middleware portfolio through R&D and
acquisitions and is increasingly going head-to-head with IBM
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/financial/ibm.html> .

"For years, the database has been an extremely vigorous
competition between DB2 and Oracle database," says Joshua
Greenbaum, principal analyst at Enterprise Applications
Consulting. "The heat has gotten more intense because middleware
has been added to the mix."

Others, including SAP and Microsoft
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/financial/microsoft.html> ,
also see opportunity as corporate data centers move to
environments where data and systems are shared and reused in
so-called service-oriented architectures. Middleware - such as
application servers, business integration software and data
management systems based on open standards and Web services -
provides the foundation for this new IT environment.

"Who controls the future of computing is really what this is all
about," says Judith Hurwitz, president of Hurwitz & Associates.
"All these vendors understand that this is a transitional time
for the industry where platforms are evolving, and everybody
wants to be the market leader and control things."

Acquisition frenzy

That is resulting in a flurry of acquisitions, particularly by
Oracle and IBM, as the two industry heavyweights move to expand
their capabilities. IBM acquired Ascential Software
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/0314updat-ibm.html>, a
data integration software vendor, earlier this year. Earlier
this month, IBM said it was acquiring DWL
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080205-ibm-dwl.html> ,
maker of customer data-integration software, to build out its
data management capabilities. Since 2001, Big Blue has made nine
acquisitions in information management, says Janet Perna, a
31-year IBM veteran who was general manager of IBM's information
management unit until her retirement Aug. 15.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

SAP digs in as Oracle revs up
05/16/05
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/051605-sap.html

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco preparing management play
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate5755>

2. IT staff shortage looming
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate5319>

3. Questions surround smartphone security
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate5756>

4. Google goes berserk
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate5317>

5. CLECs play a new tune
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate5757>

Today's most-forwarded story:

IT staff shortage looming
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate5758>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact:

Mears is a Senior Writer, Enterprise Applications, at Network
World. She can be reached at: jmears@nww.com
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Ciena
NetworkWorld Special Report - The Adaptive WAN: The factors
driving WAN evolution

A combination of business and technology trends are changing the
demands on the enterprise WAN. This NetworkWorld Special Report
explores some of the key business and technology trends that are
driving and enabling the evolution of the enterprise WAN and how
the enterprise WAN can become adaptive to support these trends.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110880
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Technology Update archive:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/tech/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
IT STAFF SHORTAGE LOOMING

Outsourcing. Automation. Downsizing. The industry has been awash
in unemployed IT pros. But experts are now predicting an IT
staffing crunch is just around the corner, and the implications
for U.S. technology innovation are sobering. What might be
causing the shortage and what might need to be done to prevent
it? Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate5759>
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