Oracle Corp, the world`s largest enterprise software company, and Nokia, the global leader in mobility, announced a joint initiative to deliver Oracle Collaboration Suite on Nokia mobile handsets, signalling the companies` intention to deliver integrated mobility solutions to enterprise workforces.
Oracle and Nokia intend to develop this mobile solution for enterprise voicemail, e-mail, calendaring, file management and search capabilities to provide mobile workers with one source for integrated and consistent communication across multiple mobile devices and platforms. Program roll-out is scheduled to initiate in Western Europe with plans to extend the agreement to the Americas and Asia Pacific. Customer pilots are planned for second quarter of 2003, beginning in the UK.
"Mobility is now relevant for the enterprise market. Oracle`s enterprise experience combined with that of the leading mobility provider, sets a precedent for future strategic initiatives in this market," says Sergio Giacoletto, executive vice-president, Oracle Europe, Middle East and Africa. "The European workforce is becoming increasingly mobile and to remain productive, employees need instant access to their corporate e-mail, calendar and files - wherever they are. This strategic relationship is set to provide the right solution for this market need."
Global development teams from both corporations are leveraging synergies between Oracle Collaboration Suite and Nokia`s advanced range of mobile handsets optimised for business use. The Nokia 6800, as well as the Symbian-based Nokia 3650, Nokia 7650 and Nokia 9200 series handsets, using Oracle Collaboration Suite Release 1, offer integrated e-mail, calendaring and contact management capabilities to the mobile workforce. Oracle Collaboration Suite Release 2, which extends real-time capabilities to the joint offering, is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2003.
"Nokia believes enterprise collaboration is a key business requirement for mobile workers. Mobile workers need voice, calendar, contacts and e-mail, all of which are supported throughout the range of Nokia business handsets," says Erik Anderson, senior vice-president, Business Applications, Nokia Mobile Phones.
"With several categories of enhanced functionality to choose from, the Nokia business platform range gives enterprises an opportunity to balance the needs and preferences of different user groups as well as optimise IT spending while mobilising business processes. We are delighted to be working with Oracle on this initiative. The combination of Nokia business handsets and Oracle Collaboration Suite will allow companies to maximise the productivity and time efficiency of their mobile workers while simultaneously minimising the cost associated with being mobile."
Independent market research company iGillottResearch examined the benefits associated with mobile collaboration applications and found that mobile access to e-mail and personal information management saves between five and six hours per mobile employee per week, while an average pay back period for investment in mobile applications is a very rapid four-to-six months. iGillottResearch believes that any corporate IT department would be ill advised to implement any new enterprise IT solutions without first considering the implications of wireless technology on that application or environment. Global competition, and the ability to move information, content and documents around an organisation today depend on mobility solutions.
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Oracle Collaboration Suite is the first product that leverages a relational database to offer a secure, reliable and scalable way to simplify business communications and consolidate information - reducing hardware, software and administration costs. Leveraging the Oracle9i Database and Oracle9i Application Server infrastructure, Oracle Collaboration Suite offers customers a suite of enterprise-class messaging and collaboration applications that enables organisations to reduce total cost of ownership while increasing user productivity. It provides users with access to integrated e-mail, voicemail, calendaring, file sharing and search capabilities from popular desktop clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Web browsers and a wide range of wireless devices including PDAs and cellphones.
Oracle
Oracle is the world`s largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle, visit http://www.oracle.com.
Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
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