When I look at the future of Oracle, three tough questions come to mind:
1. As big companies continue to dissolve and smaller companies continue to evolve, is the future of database tech in the enterprise Oracle database or in their open-source MySQL database?
2. Can Oracle use SaaS to expand into the SME space while using a subscription-based model rather than a pay-as-you-go model?
3. Oracle is making a serious investment, with both internal development projects and multiple acquisitions, in baking enterprise social infrastructure into both their apps products and their tech stack. But can they offer a compelling value proposition that I can't already achieve through currently available, no-cost products?
Why are these tough questions for me? Because I can't figure them out. So could ya'all please hit the comments and enlighten me?
1 comment:
Hi Floyd,
I'll make a stab at questions 1 & 3; need a bit more clarification at 2 (what is the difference between subscription and PAYG models?)
1. Oracle DB vs MySQL. I wonder if this is a re-run of the competition between (Mainframe & IMS-DB;DB/2 etc) vs. "Open" systems & relational database discussion of 20 years ago.
The differences are, as I understand it:
a) You can have Oracle database as a "engine" wrapped within MySQL to present a uniform programming model to the application; thus leveraging the areas where Oracle handles scale-up better and use other features such as better data encryptions
b) there are other competing paradigms: NoSQL, Hadoop etc (SaaS or inhouse)
Ultimately, developers (especially package/SaaS developers) will decide based on what gets the job done and meets the performance requirements, which is likely to be a mix of solutions.
3. Social in apps. Isn't the Oracle value proposition in that you can properly contextualise (and easily share) the social conversation alongside structured data relevant to the conversation to make better informed decisions? (This could take some effort to achieve with your own mashups). In other words, a bit like a call centre "screen pop" based on your telephone number when you call in for service.
And also the ability to guarantee that the conversation is private when it needs to be?
Or have I misunderstood the question or not seen the whole picture.
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