IBM offers Oracle customers incentives to jump ship

IBM is making an aggressive pitch for Oracle customers with free financial and technical consultancy evaluations to firms looking to move from Oracle's Database and Web Logic platforms to DB2 and WebSphere.

IBM is also offering zero per cent financing for 12 months on new systems, and flexible 24- and 36-month leasing arrangements for credit qualified customers. Over 100 training courses at reduced rates are also available to get IT staff up to speed.

"Clients are looking to IBM Software as an attractive alternative to forced migrations, uncertain product roadmaps, waning levels of support and rising licensing costs," said Bernie Spang, director of strategy at IBM Software.

"More importantly, clients find that making the switch to IBM Software helps them achieve their business goals faster and more economically."

IBM claims that more than 1,000 companies switched from Oracle Database to DB2 last year, and over 400 WebLogic clients moved to WebSphere over the same period.

This is the latest shot in an ongoing battle between the two companies. Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison was quick to move against what he saw as attempts by IBM to move in on its customer base during the Sun acquisition, and laid down a $10m challenge to Big Blue.

IBM countered with a pitch to win over Sun resellers less than six months later, and started a similar scheme to today's announcement in the UK last year. IBM is also using similar tactics against Sybase, with mixed success.