Oracle, the largest business software company in the world, has made important headlines with the announcement of its acquisition of Sun Microsystems, the world's No. 4 maker of server computers and also the developer of the widely used Java and Solaris software.

While details of the deal are emerging slowly, Oracle is busy trying to dispel its image that it is the "database software" company, and its office in Malta is actively seeking to assist Maltese organisations, from government to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Michael Balzan, business development manager and country leader at Oracle Malta, explains how the company is supporting the rise of the Maltese information society.

Oracle has been present in Malta for many years, and the Oracle office was established a few years ago. What is Oracle's experience of working with Maltese clients directly and through the local partners?

Oracle has a long and successful presence in Malta, going back over 20 years. During this time we have managed to build Oracle's customer base, initially through our local partner Megabyte and then by establishing the local office in Sliema in 2004. We have a very strong customer presence in various sectors like financial services, communications, manufacturing and transportation, to name only a few.

Contrary to common perception, our customers include small to medium companies from the private sector, including insurance companies, small manufacturing concerns and companies operating in the tourism sector.

Establishing the local office five years ago was the logical step to support both the market's growing demand for Oracle's leading technology solutions, like database, middleware, and best-of-breed business applications, as well as the country's potential as an emerging market.

Over the years, we have expanded our partner network by adding companies like Crimsonwing, RS2, Merlin Computers and Intercomp to better serve our customers, existing and prospects, and their constant interest and need for open, integrated and complete solutions. Oracle's strategy fits their business requirements and, along with our local partners, we provide the solutions that address their day-to-day challenges.

How is Oracle perceived in the Maltese market? What is the feedback from customers and partners?

The feedback we receive is very positive. Oracle's presence, through the local office, has helped the expansion of Oracle's local partner network to the benefit of our customers, irrespective of whether they need to expand their existing investments in Oracle solutions or choose to purchase one of Oracle's 9,000 products for the first time.

Additionally, Oracle's local presence enhances our support to the educational system, through proposed programmes available to schools and universities. More importantly, it provides greater opportunities for graduates and professionals to get in touch with Oracle's extended product portfolio through training, informative events and the continuous expansion of our customer base and partner network which creates job opportunities.

Oracle insists that it is not the "database software company" but has a very large portfolio. Why has Oracle chosen to develop such products?

Oracle has been a leader in the software industry for more than 30 years. Our business is information - how to manage, use, share and protect it. Its commitment to providing industry expertise and world-class products to its customers has led to the 9,000 products provided today.

Through a continuous investment in research and development, and more than 50 acquisitions in the past five years, Oracle has built its complete, open and integrated portfolio based on feedback provided by customer advisory boards and user groups.

Today, Oracle can provide solutions for nearly every area of a customer's IT system. Firstly, we provide the Oracle Database, designed for grid computing and ensuring business information is always available and secure. Then we can provide the next layer - Oracle Fusion Middleware, the family of middleware products that includes leading Application Server, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Performance Management and Identity Management solutions, and Application Platform Suites.

The next layer is Oracle Applications, including Oracle E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft Enterprise, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, JD Edwards World, Siebel, and Hyperion, which help deliver the complete functionality and business intelligence that companies need to compete and win. Oracle has the leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Human Capital Management (HCM) applications.

And complementing this, we have a suite of industry-vertical solutions - Oracle Industry Solutions - to address the specific challenges and processes unique to each industry.

Oracle has signed an alliance agreement with the Maltese government. What progress has been achieved in the implementation of this agreement?

A few years ago, the government and Oracle signed a strategic alliance agreement that defines the areas in which Oracle can help the realisation of the National ICT Strategy through direct contributions towards the information society, with special emphasis on the fight against the digital divide and the engendering of the local software industry. This agreement has spawned a number of initiatives, some of which have been successfully concluded. Others are still in progress.

In the past few years we have seen some important developments in IT and internet. Web 2.0 has come out strong and we started to hear of "cloud computing" and software available in the "cloud" rather than installed on desktops. How is Oracle reacting to these developments?

Cloud computing is an emerging trend for the delivery of software and hardware as services through the internet. Oracle offers customers many choices to run business software in both private and public clouds. Oracle's cloud offerings include a rich portfolio of On Demand applications providing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) as well as hosted and managed alternatives to on-premise deployment.

For developers at SaaS independent software vendors and within enterprises, Oracle also enables cloud computing by providing a SaaS platform to deploy applications as SaaS offerings or private clouds. Grid computing is the basis for the Oracle SaaS Platform and provides cost-effective, highly scalable and available software infrastructure for both public and private clouds.

What are the future plans for Oracle in Malta?

Oracle will continue to help support its expanding customer base and partner network but will also use its resources and technology to further advance education and benefit the local community.

Oracle's presence in Malta is bringing positive change to the Maltese economy and can continue to do so, creating opportunities on an individual but also corporate level for growth and competitive advantage.