My readers know I banter quite a bit with SAP (and of course, say things that make their execs cringe). But its growing legions of bloggers engage with me - and SAP has invited me and other bloggers to Sapphire.
Oracle, on the other hand - in spite of my knowing several folks there - has been aloof. I wrote to Charles Phillips a few months ago expressing surprise they are not active in the blogging conversation. He sent me a warm note back (we have known each other for years now), but no offer to engage on the blog level.
Well, they are becoming a lot more active - several blogs at this listing on the Oracle site. Including some of their executives (though I noticed John Wookey has not blogged in months) and links to some practitioner bloggers like Richard Byrom who I have been reading for over a year now. Even some Oracle alum like Dave Stephens are starting to blog.
Oracle is a company which often seems to thrive on the Madonna school of publicity - good, bad, it's all good. But one on one, they are a sensitive set of folks who feel analysts, media often do not give them a fair shake. Blogging gives them a chance to engage with a number of their constituencies - if they can do it well and transparently. We will see over the next few months.
Update: May 25 - Joshua Greenbaum weighs in with this commentary on Oracle communications. After the access SAP gave bloggers last week, the "closedness" of Oracle looks even more striking.
