Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Reuters Business Channel | Reuters.com
Reuters Business Channel Reuters.com: "Apotheker downplayed the competition from Oracle, saying that despite all its effort to buy market share, the U.S software company was still lagging significantly behind.
'I think Oracle made a fundamental mistake. They spent 19 billion dollars to be the distant number two,' he said. 'But what counts is facts, and the numbers released to the street, the license sales,' he added, referring to the number of customers who buy licences to use its business applications.
He added that a Chinese software maker might well emerge in the next few years as a more serious threat than Oracle to SAP.
'If you ask me, do I believe there will be a Chinese competitor in a number of years, the answer is yes,' he said. 'Maybe not today, not tomorrow but in five years I can see the emergence of a significant Chinese operator.' Apotheker said.
'I believe China has more potent competitive potential than Oracle,' he added."
'I think Oracle made a fundamental mistake. They spent 19 billion dollars to be the distant number two,' he said. 'But what counts is facts, and the numbers released to the street, the license sales,' he added, referring to the number of customers who buy licences to use its business applications.
He added that a Chinese software maker might well emerge in the next few years as a more serious threat than Oracle to SAP.
'If you ask me, do I believe there will be a Chinese competitor in a number of years, the answer is yes,' he said. 'Maybe not today, not tomorrow but in five years I can see the emergence of a significant Chinese operator.' Apotheker said.
'I believe China has more potent competitive potential than Oracle,' he added."
