EDS, Oracle have announced that they have extended their strategic alliance to develop and market software and solutions for tax and revenue agencies around the world.

The two companies plan to aggressively target application-specific pursuits with tax and revenue agencies at all levels of government in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions. Oracle will provide software and product expertise. Through EDS' recent acquisition of Saber Government Solutions, EDS will act as the integrator, providing IT services to implement Oracle's products along with any other IT solutions required for clients' individual needs.

Saber will add a tax product line to an existing software and services portfolio, which includes Motor Vehicle Registration and Unemployment Insurance, Voter Registration, Health and Human Services, Justice & Public Safety, and Public Retirement programmes. More than 100 Saber consultants in North America and India will be trained in 2008 on Oracle Enterprise Taxation Management products to support EDS' global clients' requirements.

"This agreement marks an industry-first, combining EDS' unique ability to manage and deliver on a worldwide basis and Oracle's products and expertise," said Michael Coomer, EDS executive vice president and Oracle alliance executive sponsor. "We look forward to further enhance the EDS-Oracle relationship in 2008 through our global Oracle practice, to expand our collective ability to become our clients' business ally."

"Oracle's Enterprise Taxation Management (ETM) system is a secure, tax-specific, commercial off-the-shelf software solution that enables tax and revenue authorities to optimise the revenue collection and billing processes," said Charlie Feld, EDS senior executive vice president of applications services. "It provides a flexible, integrated alternative to custom-built systems that are expensive to maintain and difficult to adapt to new taxes and regulations. EDS will continue to work with Oracle to partner around specific industry verticals."