Oracle OpenWorld 2013: 10 Questions Worth Asking

As Oracle OpenWorld 2013 starts in San Francisco, CEO Larry Ellison is preparing to discuss Database 12c enhancements and in-memory capabilities to speed application performance. But that’s not all: Cloud and on-premises partnerships with Dell, Intel (INTC), EMC, Fujitsu and Microsoft (MSFT) will take center stage. For channel partners, here are 10 trends to watch and questions to ask. 

10. OPN Specialized Talk: The Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Specialized program will take the spotlight on Sept. 21. Joel Borellis, group vice president, Partner Enablement, Oracle, will lead a session with Global OPN regional leads. The VAR Guy will be in the house.

9. Fujitsu Relationship: The VAR Guy expects Fujitsu to offer an update on its M10 servers, which are based on Oracle’s 16-core SPARC64 X processor. How are the high-end Fujitsu systems performing vs. mass market x86 servers? The VAR Guy will get an update.

8. Oracle Linux and Virtualization: The VAR Guy has written some exclusive updates on Oracle’s Linux and Virtualization strategies. As part of the Oracle partnership with Microsoft, might we next see or hear about Oracle Linux virtualized on Hyper-V or Windows Server virtualized on Oracle’s hypervisor? Hmmm…

7. Grand Slam?: The Big Four trends in IT right now include Cloud, Mobile, Social and Big Data. Of that foursome, The VAR Guy wonders: What is Oracle doing to really accelerate its mobile strategy? And here’s a wild idea: What if Oracle acquired BlackBerry?

6. Larry Ellison’s CIO Advisor?: Oracle Chief Communications Officer Bob Evans understands how IT media works. He previously was a senior VP at TechWeb and InformationWeek — the media company that allegedly gave The VAR Guy his start in the early 1990s. So what does Evans have to say about Oracle’s Engineered Systems, Cloud, Fusion and Simplified IT initiatives? Hmmm… Stay tuned for those views and more.

5. The Internet of Things (IoT): The VAR Guy doesn’t love the term, but it seems to be spreading. For Oracle, that means gathering and managing data from sensors, RFID tags, and IP devices. Say hello to machine to machine computing and SkyNet? Hmmm… Details from the conference are coming.

4. Cloud Partner Program: Overall, The VAR Guy likes where Oracle’s cloud partner program is heading. But what new surprises might Jeff Porter, director of worldwide alliances and channels for go to market and cloud programs, have in store? The VAR Guy is hunting down the answers.

3. Marketing Matters: Oracle President Mark Hurd recently told BusinessWeek that the company had the right technology and strategy. But Hurd conceded Oracle’s marketing needs to improve. Enter Chief Marketing Officer Judith (“Judy”) Sim’s keynote on Sept. 21… Are some surprises coming? You bet.

2. Growth?: Yes, Oracle’s Exadata and Exalogic businesses are growing. But the company’s most recent quarterly financial forecast, disclosed a few days ago, underwhelmed some analysts. Can Oracle’s Database 12c, in-memory technology, Engineered Systems and cloud offerings whip up the perfect storm for partners who want to grow? The VAR Guy will be chasing that story most of the conference. 

1. Who Is Channel Chief?: Former Oracle Channel Chief Judson Althoff joined Microsoft in March 2013. Oracle has a deep bench of channel team members. But has the company ever named an official successor for Althoff? Hmmm…

Side note: The VAR Guy will be reporting live most of the week from OpenWorld. Got a question, news tip or comment? Our resident blogger is all ears.