Oracle plans to announce on Monday the release of PeopleSoft Enterprise 9, as the software titan seeks to solidify its promise to continue supporting and enhancing its former rival's products post merger.
PeopleSoft 9 marks one of Oracle's three major 2006 initiatives post merger mania with PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems and host of smaller applications companies. Oracle is also aiming to reassure nervous PeopleSoft users, who were concerned the software giant would force them to switch to Oracle's own set of applications.
Oracle also announced the formation of a dedicated, centralised PeopleSoft team, with the appointment of a PeopleSoft Enterprise general manager. Doris Wong, an 11-year PeopleSoft employee who arrived at Oracle via the merger, will lead the strategic direction and development of current and future PeopleSoft products.
"We will help PeopleSoft customers protect their investment in PeopleSoft," Wong said. "This applies not only to future releases but also in giving them a choice when they want to move to Fusion or stay with PeopleSoft."
Fusion is a major initiative by Oracle to integrate technology from the myriad software vendors the company has acquired, such as PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards and Siebel Systems, and develop a new software applications suite.
PeopleSoft 9 is being introduced in phases, with the Learning Management 9.0 the first one out the door. This module will focus on offering certification and regulatory compliance support.
PeopleSoft Enterprise Performance Management is the next module schedule for release and is expected to debut later this summer or early fall. Financials and human capital management are also set to release by the end of the year.
"There are three themes with PeopleSoft release 9 and they'll be the same themes you'll see in future releases too," Wong said.
PeopleSoft 9 can tie into Oracle's Fusion Middleware, providing a means for users to become more familiar with Fusion once the applications suite begins to roll out in phases next year and beyond. Oracle's latest release of its former rival's software also aims to include greater functionality than previously available and also an improvement in the cost of owning the software.
"PeopleSoft users can say, 'I will upgrade to the next release because I'm not ready to migrate to Fusion," Wong said. "When they move, it will be their decision."
Oracle, in a move to quash the fears of PeopleSoft users and the prospect of them bolting to a rival for their software applications, introduced its "Applications Unlimited" programme. The programme calls for on-going PeopleSoft product development, rather than just solely offering support.
Oracle is offering lifetime support for its current generation of products, but the software maker is also encouraging users to "retire" custom-built applications that may not work with its Fusion technology.
Oracle may also find it is making it too comfortable for PeopleSoft users to remain on their former rival's software, rather than migrating to its Fusion suite once it's ready for prime time.
Wong, however, noted: "As technology changes and evolves, companies look at their (own) technology and make changes accordingly."
