EDS will offer Oracle On Demand applications as part of its hosting and management services, and it will also provide integration and modernization services for customers’ existing applications systems. The offering is intended to address the growing mix of enterprise applications found in client portfolios, according to Oracle.
For example, under the framework of the new agreement, EDS would provide legacy upgrades and integrate existing applications from Oracle or other providers, such as SAP. EDS would then transfer the management and hosting of these standardized applications to its data centers, and Oracle would continue to provide the servicing of the software, Jacobsen said.
Currently the companies are rolling out the service on a controlled-trial basis to customers in the consumer goods and retail sector, Jacobsen explained. He said the offering is scheduled to be fully available to the open market by Q2 2006.
In other EDS news, the company also announced a deal with Alleghany Energy. to provide the Greensburg, Pennsylvania-based utility with IT outsourcing services over the next seven years. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
EDS will provide management services for Alleghany’s applications, desktops, midrange servers and networks. The company will also lead a team that includes Deloitte Consulting and EDS consulting subsidiary AT Kearney in implementing a new ERP system for Alleghany.
A good part of some 185 Alleghany workers will be tranfered to EDS as part of the deal.
