SAP to Acquire Business Objects

Multiple outlets are reporting today that SAP has signed a deal to acquire Business Objects. For GP folks, Business Objects owns Crystal Reports so there's at least a tangential connection there. BO, (I had to do it) is expected to be a standalone entity within SAP and likely will get very little SAP branding.

I would expect it to be similar to Microsoft's purchase of FRx some years ago. There's been no branding of FRx as a Microsoft product. They didn't want the parent brand interfering with sales to competitor products. That's changing now of course.

The impact to GP folks will certainly be minimal in the short run. In the long run, don't expect to see Crystal Reports bundled with GP and expect MS to continue focusing on SQL Reporting Services as the future of GP reporting.

As an aside, it was fun to see Microsoft's "People Ready Business" ad for the Dynamics line in the middle of MSNBC's story on the acquisition. There's nothing like poking a competitor in the eye first thing the morning.