This means that ATG's online CRM applications can now be run on the BEA e-business infrastructure of which WebLogic Server is the core. "We are glad to see support for BEA WebLogic Server brought to market by ATG," said Ochs. "The availability of ATG applications on BEA WebLogic illustrates how customers can build, extend, and integrate all of their e-business applications on BEA WebLogic. The alliance is another effort to provide our customers with best-of-breed solutions for a total e-business solution."

It was back in July 2001 that Joe Chung, cofounder and chairman of ATG, first announced plans to deploy ATG's entire application suite on the leading J2EE Web application servers. The strategy was intended to demonstrate ATG's commitment to supporting its customers' e-business initiatives in diverse technology environments, and not just on the company's own ATG Dynamo Application Server.

The beta testing program, Chung explained, included many ATG customers and partners, including Charles Schwab, KPMG Germany, and Hoffman LaRoche. BEA WebLogic Server works seamlessly with ATG Dynamo version 5.6, ATG Enterprise Portal, and Enterprise Commerce Suites, he said, thus providing BEA WebLogic customers the ability to optimize their infrastructure investments with advanced application deployment and support.

In a statement which is a glowing endorsement of BEA Systems' strategy of helping its e-business customers with best-of-breed solutions for a total e-business solution, Chung went on to say: "Our customers want to fully utilize their existing infrastructure investments while deploying advanced e-business applications."

"This delivery is key to both extending our market reach," said Chung, "and to reducing the total cost of advanced online CRM initiatives for our mutual customers." BEA's Ochs was happy to agree. "We're glad to see support for BEA WebLogic Server brought to market by ATG," she said - and so too was Dan Keller, senior vice president global technology at Charles Schwab.

"Our new ability to run ATG Dynamo applications on BEA WebLogic application servers," said Keller, "enables us to leverage our current e-business platform to bring our superior customer service online. We can take advantage of the great scenario-driven personalization features that ATG Dynamo provides, while maximizing our existing IT investment in BEA WebLogic Server."

In the new value-for-money world of enterprise computing, these kinds of win-win software/hardware alliances are very much the flavor of the month. Certainly in this case it is of great value for BEA that ATG's customers around the globe will now come to view WebLogic Server as a key platform for the frontline CRM applications for which ATG is famous and that help build and manage mutually beneficial relationships with customers, partners, and employees.