Oracle orders in Primavera Software

Oracle on Wednesday announced that it plans to acquire Primavera Software, a maker of project management software.

(Credit: Primavera Software)

The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, is expected to close by the end of the year. Through it, Oracle aims to integrate its enterprise applications and infrastructure software with Primavera's PPM software, which is designed to aid companies in proposing, planning, managing and controlling complex projects and projects within a portfolio.

"Enterprise PPM is moving to the forefront of business strategy for industries managing complex and capital-intensive projects, and has emerged as a global driver for value creation and business success," Oracle President Charles Phillips said in a statement.

Primavera was not alone in the project management software field. Seven years ago, Microsoft announced plans to step into the market with its own project software.

Once the deal closes, Oracle Enterprise PPM will be marketed to companies specializing in engineering, construction, aerospace and defense, utilities, oil and gas, manufacturing, and professional services, according to Oracle.

[Mr. Dee]

The spending spree at Oracle is still in full gear I see. Ellison definitely has deep pockets. I wonder whats next, Office Productivity suite? They have a long battle ahead of them, especially with Microsoft's entrenched solution which is well known and well used not to mention its tight integration with Office and their Project Server solution.

[D-Schrute]

and now...the death of primavera. No one can kill a product like oracle can.

[tfruth]

Dear Mr. Dee,

I don't know what industry you work in, so, in keeping with the CNET rules, the following is not a personal attack. Primavera was on the scene in AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) 17 years before Microsoft was, as it pertains to project management software. I have worked on three programs over the last eleven years worth a collective $5,000,000,000, and ONLY Primavera products were used to manage them, and MS Project was NEVER used by ANYONE on ANY of those programs to manage ANYTHING. Microsoft Project has matured quite a bit during that time. I am cautiously optimistic that rather than being the beginning of the end of Primavera that instead we might see some quicker turnaround time on product enhancements.

[init4now]

Let's be real, Microsoft can and will continue to invest in the market, but they just don't compete with the big PPM Players. For that matter, Primavera was a distant 5th in the space anyway. (according to Gartner) Oracle might bring them back into contention, but it will take several years and bags of money to get through the mayhem.

[richardlwarren]

I see this a something good for the upper mid-market and larger segment but not particularly favorable to the SMB segment at all. I wonder too whether this will force Microsoft to reconsider having cut their Project, Project Server, and Project Portfolio Manager US sales team by 50% recently...