An interesting possibility…
http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/tech/software/10223920.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
“More recently, there has been speculation that Oracle might like to strengthen its hand in the market for business intelligence software by buying Hyperion Solutions (HYSL:Nasdaq - commentary - research) or perhaps Business Objects…”
cjweis (BOB member since 2003-10-02)
I’ve heard speculation for years that Oracle might be interested in purchasing Business Objects. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all speculation. I can see Oracle wanting to do that. But I can also see Microsoft or IBM trying to buy Business Objects.
MichaelWelter 
(BOB member since 2002-08-08)
Rumor also says Oracle wants to buy Siebel. I doubt Oracle can handle that many acquisition at the same time. They already have their hands full integrating PeopleSoft.
I think there is a better chance for Microsoft to buy BOBJ. After all, Crystal Report has been bundled with Microsoft product for years. But then, Business Objects will have to be redesigned in order to work with Microsoft’s MOLAP.
substring 
(BOB member since 2004-01-16)
I don’t see Microsoft buying it’s way in to the market. They want to take it via their own products.
IBM is a good possibility, but now that they own Ascential, it would be tougher to buy a company with an ETL tool. I think IBM is more likely to buy Cognos.
Like Michael said, the rumor about BO’s purchase have been going on for years. I don’t see it happening any time soon.
Steve Krandel (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
What is said is that it can be a good escape for BO ! There are two possibilities they eat or they will be eaten ! Due especially to freeware market.
Regards
I’ve heard that Microsoft is going to release new tool which is powerful than BO,COGNOS and HYPERION.
thangavelu 
(BOB member since 2004-12-14)
Microsoft Reporting Services is now out there, but it’s nothing even close to the ‘big 3’.
ngosz (BOB member since 2003-09-25)
I disagree - I think MS is on a path that will be a big challenge for BO and other BI vendors. Have you seen RS 2.0 and SQL 2005 yet? I haven’t seen Maestro yet, but if it’s as impressive as Reporting Services, watch out. MS doesn’t usually compete directly - they provide the frameworks and infrastructure for third parties to do the real innovation.
cjweis (BOB member since 2003-10-02)
I’d say the same thing. Reporting Services in the upcoming SQL Server 2005 is leaps beyond the current version, and Maestro is yet another generation. Definitely worth watching … I’d say we’ll call it “big 4” within a year or two.
Dwayne Hoffpauir 
(BOB member since 2002-09-19)
We’ll have to see what happens. I was basing my comments on the current version. I tried that and wasn’t all that impressed.
ngosz (BOB member since 2003-09-25)
The Beta SQL2005 reporting tools didn’t impress me either (except for Datamining techniques). Nor did Oracle Discoverer. At least, not untill you hear what it will cost to implement it because prices will be very interesting for multi-user companies. Pricing will be the greatest threat for “the big three”.
jobjoris 
(BOB member since 2004-06-30)
Agreed. The good part about Microsoft entering any market is that it drives prices down. (Just like it did with operating systems, databases, and document management.)
dnewton (BOB member since 2004-01-30)
No doubt Microsoft Reporting Services is a great reporting tool. However, since it is from Microsoft, it will remain platform-dependent or at least favoring the Windows platform. Because of that, it will be just like their Analysis Services that targets primarily the small to medium companies with homogenous system.
Of course Microsoft will tell you it works in UNIX. Same thing they were telling you about their .NET framework. But you know how it goes… judging by Microsoft’s track records.
substring (BOB member since 2004-01-16)
Platform dependency is become less of an issue each day as web services standards evolve and vendors get on the SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) bandwagon. The open source pressure will also help to keep that trend in motion (example: MS and Sun in bed together).
Who isn’t favoring the Windows platform? ZABO deploys to just Windows clients, right? Have you met anyone that uses the WebIntelligence Java applet on Linux? I haven’t. And I also haven’t met a BO user that doesn’t have Excel installed on their PC.
Microsoft will probably use BI (Maestro, Analysis Services, RS/ReportBuilder) to keep the milk flowing from their MS Office cash cow. (Have you seen all their dinosaur Office ads lately?) Why pay for BO licenses if you’re already paying for MS Office and SQL Server? I bet MS is hoping to make that answer more clear and simple for our CXO’s…
The server side is a bit different of course - Linux gaining share, Microsoft pushing deeper into the datacenter, Oracle buying PeopleSoft, other acquisitions, etc. It’ll be interesting to watch the database and OS vendors continue to duke it out in the server room. The pressure from open source efforts (Linux OS, DHTML/Java/.Net client) should help us (customers) by keeping prices down and features up… 
cjweis (BOB member since 2003-10-02)
FYI - These rumors seem to still be alive and well:
http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=17&artnum=1&issue=20060817
cjweis (BOB member since 2003-10-02)
Perhaps someone wants to stir things up for financial gain. 
Frankly, if BOBJ will ever be bought by anyone, I wish it is IBM.
substring (BOB member since 2004-01-16)
Hmmm… an interesting conspiracy theory substring!
cjweis (BOB member since 2003-10-02)
I actually think Oracle will have a hard time buying BO. Oracle’s tactics tend to be around by, pillage and layoff. Since BO is still a French company, that would be a big problem due to French labor laws. Larry won’t be happy if he can’t axe half the workforce.
Also, these rumors are rarely true. What usually happens is that someone else, other than the leading candidate does the buying. Although IBM is more closely aligned to Cognos, they might be just as likely to buy BO. Or perhaps BO buys Hyperion and finally shoots Brio in the head, but then has a world-class OLAP solution.
These things are fun to speculate about.
Steve Krandel (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Rumors are always flying around and hardly ever true, just the nature of rumors…
Regarding the french labor laws: It does not really matter so much as Business Objects in other countries operates under those labor laws (and not the french) ones anyway.
Personally, I have to say I would not like to see Oracle buy Business Objects, as a BI solution should be vendor neutral when it comes to databases.
Andreas 
(BOB member since 2002-06-20)
Hi,
I think it will be the right solution.
We’ll see in the next 6 months 
Regards