Peoplesoft finds the web and slams Oracle

NEWS Peoplesoft, the ERP vendor yesterday launched Peoplesoft 8 internet architecture along with 59 web-enabled XML based application software products, including enterprise resource management (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and human resource management (HRM). The company claims its products will allow users to access applications on any browser-based device without downloading Java code, and therefore take full advantage of the internet's ability to act as a global network. In a speech, the company's CEO Craig Conway slammed rival Oracle for not being innovative and slowing down the natural evolution of computing. He said: "The internet is about connectivity and Oracle's implementations are client server based which makes integration ability and multi-device accessibility cumbersome." Conway claimed Oracle lacks vision and integrity. He said: "Oracle has delivered empty promises and has become a company which CIOs can not trust any more. It is a corporation which does not know its right from wrongs." A spokeswoman at Oracle told silicon.com: "Oracle was the first ERP vendor to catch the Internet wave. We have designed our applications for the web for the last three releases of our software suite. Mr Conway's claim is simply not true." Neil Anderson, senior analyst sees the CEOs comments as an attempt to restore the company's momentum of 1997 to 1998 when it had a stronghold on the ERP market. Anderson said: "The architecture does need to evolve, and running zero code on the client makes sense but Oracle does have a longer standing background in ERP applications, therefore it makes sense for Peoplesoft to stage a David and Goliath match." Peoplesoft is also facing a lawsuit filed by Christopher W. Marble, a shareholder of Peoplesoft, who is accusing senior members of insider dealing. At the event the company refused to comment on the $150m suit.