Oracle and
European system integrator Cap
Gemini
plan to deliver integrated wireless telecoms solutions based on Oracle’s
Portal-to-Go product.
Cap Gemini says it has already established centers in Holland
and France where development will take place, with others
planned for the United States and Singapore.
“Industry research has shown the wireless data services
market to be growing at an exponential rate, particularly in
Europe where the carriers are most advanced,” said Nick
Gregory, product marketing director at Oracle UK.
The combination of Cap Gemini’s expertise and Oracle’s complete
wireless portal solution will enable telecoms operators
to extend their businesses to the wireless Internet.
Eden Zoller, an Ovum consultant and co-author of a forthcoming
report on wireless portals, commented that the provision of
wireless Internet and e-commerce services would be an
essential service, but only the first step in a long,
competitive battle.
“The real winners will be those operators that can turn these services
into integrated, end-to-end solutions that are tailored to a
customer’s particular needs,” said Zoller.
Cap Gemini and Oracle will seek joint clients and use
their respective geographic strengths to gain a market
share quickly.
Alexandre Haeffner, president of Cap Gemini Telecom & Media,
said that his firm was strategically placed to accelerate the
development of the wireless Internet around Oracle
Portal-to-Go.
“With our extensive knowledge of the European market place in
general and the wireless and Internet businesses in particular,
Cap Gemini can bring the telecom industry into the competitive
realm by showing it the way to innovative and powerful e-business
applications and services based on Oracle.”
With 305 million wireless handsets in use, the potential market is
substantially larger than the Internet itself. Oracle Portal-to-Go,
with its web, database and security features, enables
wireless carriers to become e-commerce service providers.
The announcement comes in a busy week for the wireless
Internet industry, following the recent major strategy announcement by
the U.K.’s Vodaphone AirTouch.