Oracle Absorbs BEA's Middleware: The Impact On Application Development Managers

The best news in Oracle's plan to absorb BEA Systems' middleware products: No forced upgrades and/or migrations for nine years. At the same time, Oracle disclosed plans for a rationalization of Oracle and BEA middleware to create new platforms by combining existing products. The foundation for these new platforms will be products today designated as "strategic." The result: Preexisting Oracle and BEA customers won't be forced to move to new products, but the investment priority Oracle will give to products designated as "strategic" will give customers a strong incentive to do so. The disruption caused by these product moves will vary depending on whether your move is an upgrade or a migration involving data and code conversion. Oracle's plan has shifted since Oracle first announced it on July 1, 2008, and so application development managers using Oracle or BEA middleware should carefully check everything the company says as they re-orient their strategies to the new reality. For most, Oracle's middleware choices will now be more complex and risky than before.