JD Edwards channel stable ... for now

PeopleSoft has moved to reassure partners of JD Edwards that it does not plan to shake up the channel following its acquisition of the rival enterprise software vendor.

Resellers were concerned that once both firms' products were merged, PeopleSoft, which sells direct, would can JD Edwards' channel.

But the vendor told attendees of last week's Connect conference in Barcelona that JD Edwards' existing channel would be left largely unchanged for the time being.

Alistair McGill, PeopleSoft UK marketing manager, said: "We are expecting to retain all the companies that are currently part of our alliance."

But McGill was only able to give short-term assurances, adding: "We will focus on the partners we have and I don't think we're in a numbers game."

PeopleSoft again stressed that the combined strengths of both companies would represent increased opportunities rather than immediate change for those associated with it.

UK integrator and consultancy Infogain echoed this view. "The merger and PeopleSoft's strategy has given us more opportunity," said Michael Christoforou, Infogain's practice director.

Colin Scott, European business manager for JD Edwards partner CMS Systime, added: "We are very encouraged by the PeopleSoft acquisition and look forward to working closely with them."

Speaking at the event, PeopleSoft president and chief executive, Craig Conway, attacked Oracle's takeover attempt, calling it a tactic to discredit the threat from PeopleSoft.

"The greatest danger to PeopleSoft was that its customers would freeze planned purchases. But they refused to let that happen," he told delegates.

Just a day later, however, at the OracleWorld conference in Paris, Chuck Phillips, the man leading Oracle's hostile bid for PeopleSoft, admitted that his company was frustrated by how long it was taking to get regulatory approval to buy Peoplesoft.

"Contrary to what you may have heard, the transaction is not dead: that's just wishful thinking. Regulatory approval is the key," he said.