Oracle Leverages Telco APIs for Innovative Cloud Applications
Oracle is venturing into new territory by utilizing telecommunications APIs to enhance its cloud applications aimed at enterprise clients. The integration of these APIs feeds critical data into Oracle’s Enterprise Communications Platform (ECP), which is pivotal for its functionality. However, Oracle faces a significant challenge in effectively conveying to its customers the revolutionary nature of this technology.
Understanding the Potential of Oracle’s ECP
This article took some time to develop because it was challenging to pinpoint the exact rationale for its importance. Oracle possesses a promising technology, yet the difficulty lies in articulating why it is a transformative solution—at least for the moment, as its full potential remains untapped. The centerpiece of this discussion is the Enterprise Communications Platform (ECP), which was introduced at the Mobile World Congress earlier this year. Initially, Oracle presented a vision that some, including IDC’s John Byrne, described as “aspirational.” Recently, however, Oracle made a tangible advancement by announcing its inaugural use case, which focuses on facilitating essential IoT connectivity through an API integration with AT&T’s network.
Key Partnerships and Use Cases
According to Andrew De La Torre, Oracle’s Group VP of Technology, this collaboration enables cloud applications running on ECP to access network connectivity right down to the device level, utilizing AT&T’s infrastructure—including the AT&T-operated FirstNet. This capability was not feasible prior to the API integration, as De La Torre emphasized that ECP functions as a platform rather than a network. While he provided insights into various public safety applications that this partnership could enhance, such as improved emergency response and quicker jail admissions, it is crucial to note that public safety is just the first of five major sectors Oracle intends to target with ECP and network API connections. Other sectors include food and beverage, healthcare, energy and water, and construction and engineering. The initial phase of the food and beverage offering—a comprehensive package for restaurants featuring a router, point-of-sale systems, and tablets for greeters and self-ordering—is expected to launch later this year, with products in the other three sectors anticipated within 14 to 16 months, potentially accelerating for healthcare.
Diverse Opportunities Beyond Telecom
While the specific applications within these verticals remain somewhat vague, De La Torre mentioned that AT&T is not the sole telecommunications partner for Oracle; the company is also exploring opportunities with satellite and private network providers. He asserted that what distinguishes ECP is its ability to deliver cloud-based, on-demand applications. Traditionally, enterprises collaborate with cloud providers to develop specific applications, but are often left to independently source the necessary cloud and network resources, which can complicate the process. Oracle aims to simplify this experience for its clients.
Challenges in Communication Strategy
Despite these advancements, Oracle is encountering significant communication challenges as it attempts to articulate the value of ECP to both customers and investors. Byrne noted that the company is striving to convey a complex and ambitious value proposition, a task that is often easier said than done. He believes this presents an opportunity for Oracle to demonstrate tangible benefits in one specific area—public safety—while suggesting that similar advantages could be replicated across other sectors. Furthermore, network APIs could prove to be pivotal in unlocking additional value from Oracle’s established relationships within telecommunications and various industry verticals.
Bridging Two Worlds with Communication
In essence, these network APIs could make communications more accessible through ECP, using terminology familiar to Oracle’s enterprise clientele. Byrne highlighted Oracle’s strong presence in both the telecommunications sector and other market verticals, raising the question of how to effectively merge these realms to create greater value. He emphasized that the primary barrier lies not in the technology itself but in the communication strategy surrounding it. Sometimes, organizations become so engrossed in their own environment that they fail to consider how their innovations will be perceived by those who are constantly engaged with these technologies. In a light-hearted conclusion, Byrne suggested that Oracle could benefit from hiring an analyst to draft a white paper to clarify the complexities of their offerings.
