* Will Oblix continue in the MIIS Alliance?
A couple of weeks ago, in the Identity Management newsletter (see link below), I introduced a new industry group – the MIIS Alliance. This association of five veteran organizations was announced in Vancouver on March 14 during the Directory Experts Conference. Its aim, according to the obligatory Web site, is to be “a consortium of global, industry-leading software and services companies that tailor and extend the benefits and functionality of Microsoft Identity Integration Server (MIIS).”
The five organizations involved are: NetPro (http://www.netpro.com), Oblix (http://www.oblix.com), Oxford Computer Group (http://www.oxfordcomputergroup.com), PointBridge (http://www.pointbridge.com), and Vintela (http://www.vintela.com).
Last week’s announcement that Oracle had acquired Oblix could cause a bit of a problem for the Alliance, however.
It’s probably safe to say that there are few rooms big enough to hold both Ellison and Gates at the same time, without blood being shed. It’s also safe to say that there’s no room big enough to hold both of their egos at any one time – that’s a physical impossibility. Bill Gates is the World’s Richest Man, and Larry Ellison wants the title.
There’s an old Silicon Valley joke that goes “What’s the difference between Larry Ellison and God? God doesn’t think he’s Larry Ellison.” A few years ago, Ellison sued the city of San Jose because its noise ordinances forbade him from landing his private jet at the city’s airport after 11:30 p.m. He won the case, then immediately switched to using a different airport. With Larry, it’s not whether you win or lose – he’s sure he’ll win eventually. It is all about how you play the game, though, and he always plays cutthroat.
Just how much do you suppose Ellison wants to “extend the benefits and functionality of Microsoft Identity Integration Server”?
A lesser man, upon acquiring Oblix, might announce that Oblix would be pulling out of the Alliance. Oracle’s public statement, from Senior VP of Server Technologies Thomas Kurian and VP of Product Marketing Rick Schultz is that “No decision to withdraw from the Alliance has been made.” A spokesperson for the Alliance had no official comment, but said the group was waiting to see how Oracle would proceed.
Ellison, I believe, could easily decide to remain in the Alliance and use it to take pokes at Bill Gates and Microsoft. Former Oblix boss Gordon Eubanks (the guy who took Symantec from nothing to powerhouse) is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Eubanks did not go with Oblix to live in Ellison’s tent. Eubanks believes that driving the industry as a whole rewards all the good people in it. There’s only one person Ellison wants to reward.
This could be a major soap opera over the next few months, or it might be a tempest in a teapot. But as long as it shows promise of being an entertaining Microsoft related story, I’ll keep my eye on it and let you know what’s happening.
