Letter from the Editor

As 2004 draws to a close, I am delighted to bring you this latest edition of the Oracle newsletter for independent software vendors operating in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In this issue we feature profiles of three software vendors that are enjoying productive and profitable working relationships with Oracle.

Originating in India, core banking applications vendor i-flex has drawn upon its relationship with Oracle to expand into the global market, becoming one of the worldwide financial industry's most fêted application providers. In our interview you can read how the two companies approach the financial services market together.

Finnish vendor Aldata Solution is another Oracle ISV partner that has found success in multiple geographies. Our profile article reveals how the supply chain management software vendor is getting the best value out of its investment in Oracle by using Oracle Real Application Clusters to boost the performance of its solutions - without having to change a single line of code.

Occam Systems, a provider of accommodation management software to British universities and other educational establishments, has drawn on the services of Oracle Product Technology Services (PTS) to migrate from Oracle Forms client/server to Oracle Application Server 10g, allowing it to provide web-enabled applications that bring real productivity benefits to its customers. We've also included a separate article about Oracle PTS to show you how this team of technical experts is helping partners to conduct rapid Oracle upgrades and migrations from alternative platforms.

Oracle's 400-strong ISV partner community in France is one of the biggest vendor ecosystems in the country, outstripping those of IBM and Microsoft. Read our interview with Oracle France ISV Manager Richard Nigoghossian to understand what is attracting France-based vendors to partner with Oracle.

Also in this issue you will find the latest news about the superlative performance of Oracle's technology stack, read about the partners who won this year's Oracle PartnerNetwork Innovation Awards, and learn about Oracle's new broadcasting venture for partners, OPN TV.

Last but not least, it wouldn't be the holiday season without some fun and games. On the left you will find our light-hearted Holiday Quiz, where you can test your knowledge of Oracle!

Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you and your families all a very happy and peaceful holiday season, and I look forward to communicating with you further in 2005.

Bertram Mandel
Senior Director, Alliances & Channels, Oracle Europe, Middle East and Africa