Oracle and Sun Developing E911 Applications

Oracle and other key vendors are planning to utilize new E911 technology that will accelerate development of location-based services. That key component is the federal government's Enhanced 911 effort, which would enable large carriers to automatically pinpoint the whereabouts of a cell-phone caller in distress. E911 implementation is not moving forward in accordance with FCC mandate (see our APCO story in this issue). The operators are citing high cost and complexity for slow implementation - this is only partially true. 

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Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: It may be all right for Oracle and Sun to move into this space. We are glad that they are seeing the potential.  However, first major industry that will exploit E911 is the public safety. Neither of the two vendors have any domain knowledge.  Will either of them buy this know-how. The key ingredient that will make it happen is missing.  There is nothing inherent in Oracle DBMS technology or Sun's server hardware and software that gives the pair any advantage. If this is yet another effort to play in an emerging market space, we understand. We would strongly recommend that they partner with one of the leading public safety application package supplier.  If Oracle/Sun team is thinking of the general-purpose location-based services market - which will be big, then we understand their motivation.