The Oracle People iPhone App is Here

February 4th, 2009 View Comments

Oracle People iPhone appWith many thanks to Clayton Donley who built the app with help from Rich, Anthony and Noel, I give you the Oracle People iPhone app.

I’ve been teasing this app for nearly two week, and it’s finally approved and ready for general consumption. If you’re interested (and work for Oracle), drop a comment with your oracle.com email address, or email me for the download location.

Features
Contact info obfuscated to protect the innocent, i.e. meSo, what does it do, and why is it a big deal?

The app came from a really basic use case. Employees need the ability to search for other employees while on the go to contact them. Easy stuff, right?

Not so much actually due to the requirements for VPN and the mobile browser limitations. Sure, we have ways to get inside the Oracle firewall, but they’re not very mobile-friendly.

Clayton began with this in mind, and his implementation of VPN and OSSO is very user-friendly, at least compared to doing the same tasks in Safari. By the way, if you get annoyed at entering your credentials, that’s a security requirement, not a part of the app.

So, you can find people, and when you do, the app uses Connect API goodness to show you the person’s profile and Connect activity. The profile actually combines the person’s Connect and corporate directory profiles into a single view. Tapping the person’s phone number/s open the Phone app; tapping the person’s email address opens the Email app.

Pretty sweet, but wait, there’s more.

Create/Modify contact in your iPhone address book, invite to network, tweetYou can add the person to your iPhone’s address box or update an existing contact. This is a huge time saver because it populates the fields that you’d normally have to type in yourself. Brilliant. And, you’ll get a profile picture too, if the person has one.

In addition, you can invite the person to join your Connect network and send an OraTweet if you like.

Many people have IM IDs entered too; I haven’t tested this, but at some point, I can see the addition of tap-to-chat. Rich found a way to add his geocode, and we’re already pondering ways to update that from the iPhone. There are loads of geo features we could add, which would open a huge amount of cool features to road warriors. Stay tuned.

Comment on your activity logBeyond all the contact stuff, the app also surfaces a lot of Connect’s functionality to your iPhone. You can view your network (Connections) and various activity logs, and you can reply and comment on items in your activity logs, by email and by OraTweet.

There’s a lot in there.

People Involved
About Oracle PeopleAs I mentioned, this app is a joint effort. It’s also a great example of harnessing the talent of hackers for a really useful result. Clayton worked on this app in his free time, as did everyone else involved. The data flow between several systems inside the firewall via open APIs and RSS.

We’re seeing a lot more demand for this type of functionality internally, and Rich and Anthony have formalized API specs for Connect data to help people develop their own special side projects. Noel has an API for OraTweet as well.

So, if you have a project or want to scratch an itch, let us know.

Hit up the comments if you want the information about the Oracle People iPhone app. Remember to use your oracle.com email address.


Possibly Related Posts

  • sonang
    would love this - please send to me as well!
  • Peter Korn
    I'm likewise new to Oracle from Sun, and keen to this app. Thanks!
  • lgoudie
    I'm new to Oracle (nee Sun)... I'd like to know where to get this app. Anything to help me find my way around!
  • junaidurrehman
    great, can i have this app as well ?
  • john archer
    I already have it on my iPhone - but I'm trying to get it to someone else. Also I saw the source might be available - if that is true could you send that as well? Is anyone working on a Droid/Nexus One version or Blackberry?

    thanks
    john
  • Marco Rossi
    Can you please forward the link to me, would like to try it out
  • Sudhir Gattu
    I would like to have this app. Can you please send me the link.
  • Brandon A. Collier
    Please send me the link. Great work!
  • Mathew
    Please send me the link
  • Aravinda_L
    I would like to try this app...Please send me the link
  • Samir Estefan
    Please send me the download info.
  • David Kulik
    Looks great; please send me download info.
  • David Kulik
    Looks great; please send me download info.
  • thomasstadler
    Cool!
    Where can I get it?
  • Erik Staubo
    I would like to try this app.
  • mariakaval
    Please send me the link!
  • Jayaraj Muthukumarasamy
    Hi, Can you please send me the link for the Oracle People iPhone Application.
  • Please could you send me the link also, I'll be in SF for OOW and feel certain this is going to be the most useful thing on my phone!
    Thanks in advance
    Gareth:)
  • zvezdan
    I would appriciate if someone send me the link as well!

    Regards

    Zvezdan
  • Hi Zvezdan. This app is for Oracle employees. I can't seem to find you in our directory, so if you're an employee, please provide your oracle.com email address. If not, sorry :)
  • Rajesh C S
    Hi, Can you please send me the link for the Oracle People iPhone Application
  • Name
    The link is broken! Found the download link, but it does not work; says invalid URL.
    Can someone help?
  • Mike Halladay
    Send me the link for BlackBerry, please.
  • Jennie
    Would love to try it too. Please send link. Thanks.
  • cgs
    Please send me the link
  • Ecommercewebdesign
    I am also interested. Please send me the link.
  • Sorry, the app is for employees of Oracle only.
  • Jason
    Please send me the link...thx.
  • PL
    May I have the link too ?
    thanks
  • paulledingham
    Hi - please send me the link - thanks paul.ledingham
  • saikirandaripelli
    How to connect to Oracle vpn using iphone?
    Can you please mail me to saikiran.daripelli at oracle.com
  • Kyle Skiven
    I would be interested in this, can you send me the link. Thanks
  • PauContreras
    Please, can you send me the link. Thanks!
  • mmilano1968
    please send me the link. thx very much!
  • gilbertpark
    Could you send me the link, plaease?
  • brianlindsay
    Can you please send me the link
  • georgemclaughlin
    Please send me the App. I had it installed and the provisioning expired and it had be remove it. Now the App does not work.
  • arseotero
    i am interested on this. could you send me the link.

    Thanks.
  • Russ
    Please send me the link
  • Andrew
    Sounds great - can you please send me the link?
  • Sachin Agarwal
    I work for Oracle and interested in this app, please send me the download link
  • desi lopez fafie
    Hi I am interested and do work for oracle and appreciate to receive the download link
  • Chuck Pilon
    Would you forward me the link, please? Thanks!
  • Sudeep
    sudeep.x.agarwal at oracle.com

    plz send me the download location...Thanks!!!

    Gr8 idea btw...
  • Doug Jones
    Please send me the download link. Doug dot jones at oracle dot com
  • Benoit
    Hello, Can one of you send me the link to install Oracle People? Thanks in advance.
  • Sammy Kolt
    Can i get the link please?
  • Peter Moore
    Please send me a download linke, I would love to have this.
  • uv
    Can you please send me the download link. Thanks.
  • drlee123
    Can you forward me the latest People app? Somewhere I had 1.0.6 and it was working great up to a month or so ago.. I like the idea of the new GeoCode and have had my team mates all using the OraTweet function so we know what we are all doing!
  • Dave
    Jake - Can you send me the download link, please?
  • Robert Howard
    Thanks for providing the app. Please send me the link. Thanks
  • Steve Z
    Thanks for providing the app!
    Please send me the link.
  • Jen Borders
    Please send me the link as well.
  • Drew Geisler
    Hi, can you send me the download location?

    Thanks, Drew
  • Darius Poli
    Please may I have a link to this app at darius.poli at oracle.com
  • Steve
    Would like the app please
  • ampm99
    Please email the link
    alan.manewitz at oracle.com
    Thanks!
  • Kevin Agatone
    Can't spell my own name!
  • Kevin Agatoe
    Are you still passing out the link? I would like to try.
  • Richard Rodgers
    Claton / Jake,
    Please forward the link for the Oracle People iPhone app.
    It will be better than iPhone contacts and something to show off in the field.

    Thanks
  • Sean Duffy
    Clayton/Jake, I'd really appreciate a download link! Thanks.
  • Pranav Parekh
    Can I please have the download link too?
  • Mike Roberts
    can you drop me a download link ?
  • Genin
    Interested
  • ek75951
    Hello Jake.
    Could you please e-mail me the link.


    Thanks much!
    Edmund
  • Prantor Bora
    Can you please send me the link?
  • shafee
    please send me the link
  • Are you an Oracle employee? I can't find you in Connect with the information you provided. Please drop me a note through email or leave a comment with your oracle.com email address.
  • Praveen arockiasamy
    Hi pls send me the link too
    At. Praveen.arockiasamy at oracle.com
  • April Escamilla
    Can you please send me the link? Thanks so much in advance!!
  • Bob
    I'd like the link too please. thank you.
  • Ernst
    Yes, please!
  • Ismail
    Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this but is this app likely to be available for the Blackberry? What about the Oracle VPN?
  • No problem. As Nestor mentions here, there is a generic mobile version that Blackberry users can use, but it doesn't have the social goodness of Connect/OraTweet.

    Re. VPN, Clayton has skinned the SSL VPN concentrators in an iPhone friendly way, no other magic involved. Drop me an email if you want the mobile app info.
  • subrahmanyam.kvs
    Hi, Can you pls. send me the link. I am finding it difficult to configure oracle VPN on my iphone 3G.
  • Chris Fox
    Great work guys! I use Aria about 20 times a day...it would be great to add it to my phone and eliminate the PC. Can you send me the link?
  • Paul
    hi i would like the URL!
  • Jim
    Could i get the link?
  • Jake, Clayton and the Appslab team,

    well done on a great job. The app is brilliant on all counts. In a way it is a shame that there is so much security as the information is freely available in everyone's email signature - but I also understand that folks at Oracle would freak out if you tried to work around the existing security policies.

    Well done.
  • Thanks. I agree that Clayton did a phenomenal job, and Rich and Noel worked very hard to accommodate all the API requirements. We now have a full set of APIs for any app on any platform inside the firewall that wants to produce similar Connect/OraTweet functionality.
  • ncamilo
    Just for convenience of rest of users, people mobile app worked perfectly in Blackberry, so if anyone need to access internal sites using vpn, blackberry can do it to.
    regards
    Nestor
  • Ilan Salviano
    Please, cool app... need the link
  • mgiles
    I would like the link as well. Also curious about source. We have some web services in the rgbu that could be wrapped in an app, instead of having to type/click a ton on the phone or having to just whip out a netbook when not in the office or on the weekends.
  • abearman
    Yes, please send.
  • Charles Poulsen
    Link please. Thanks!
  • Davide
    Hi Jack,

    I was waiting an apps like that !

    Please send me the link.

    bests
  • Jacob Louis Biagui
    I might be iinterested as well in getting the link. Kindly find enclosed my email address
  • felixdbc
    Please send me this great app
  • Nassim Taujoo
    Pls send me the link
  • John
    Please send me the link. Thank you.
  • Nathan Reiczyk
    Hey could i get the the link as well? Thanks Nathan
  • Dave Collier
    May I have the link as well. Thanks, Dave
  • Ric C
    This sounds fantastic Jake!

    Can you please send me the link.

    Can't wait to try it.

    Cheers,

    Ric.
  • Jud Brandt
    Hi, Jake--Please send me the download location
  • Ann Fellman
    Hi Jake...can I get the app?
  • ncamilo
    Very nice idea, anybody developing it for blackberry, i just get one and love this type of app.
    Regards
    Nestor
  • There is an Aria people search app that Tyler Muth built a while back; you can find details about it in the Have an iPhone? group on Connect.
  • jframe
    Hi Jake,
    Please send me the link.
    Thanks!
  • sgaddipa
    Please send me the link
  • Shiraz Kanga
    Link Please
  • Ralf Durben
    This sounds great! Please send me the download link. Many thanks in advance.
  • Kersten Mebus
    Great idea. Please send the download link to me. Many thanks in advance.
  • Len
    Send me the link--thanks!!
  • Of course very interested, would love to give this a try ;-)
  • Joe
    Please send me the link too. Thanks.
  • Neil
    ok, I'm in...send me the link.
  • Tanya
    Can you please send me the dowload?
  • Franck
    found it, installed it on my iphone, logged and it works really well !!! WELL DONE! THANKS
  • Franck
    same for me
    Thanks
  • Tim
    Gimme gimme gimme ... please
  • deboraelkin
    Sounds great! Can you send me link?
    Thanks!
  • Bob Berg
    This app is amazing!--If you want to use WIFI on your iPhone or iPod Touch, just make sure you are connected to the "clear" SSID (inside Oracle of course) This app works fine (no need to attach to clear-guest, or anything). Only the SSL and IPSEC vpns are permitted on the "clear" ssid (and of course you need an Oracle VPN account)
  • Glad you like the app; Clayton did a phenomenal job combining the various pieces.

    Thanks for chiming in on the clear issue. That question keeps coming up on the Connect "Have an iPhone?" group.
  • Dirk
    Got it working, Nice. I am in sales (thus the initial incompetence) and this app is great as I constanly need to talk to new folks within Oracle. Hint: Create the MobileDevices folder from the FAQ manually on your PC.
  • Dirk
    Sorry not working. After spending 2 hoursgoing through various links with competing info I gave up, Great idea though.
  • Sorry dude, I sent you a note. I'm confident we can get it working.
  • rakl
    Very cool! I'd love to try this out too, Jake.
  • onduman
    Hey, It will be good for me to try Oracle People iPhone App also.
  • Duncan Mills
    Me Me Me!
  • Hey Chippy (This is my new endearing term, instead of referring to folks by name)--You know what frustrated me by this post? It's the following: "..due to the requirements for VPN and the mobile browser limitations. Sure, we have ways to get inside the Oracle firewall, but they’re not very mobile-friendly." You see, I don't have an iPhone, just a Touch with the iPhone 2.X OS. And not that this has anthing to do with WORK productivity, but I sure would love to be able to access the outside world via WIFI when I'm in the land of "Clear." Given that THIS app has a way to work through the VPN, etc., is there now a simple way to get my Touch in touch without having to drive down to SBUX? Thanks!
  • The app uses the SSL VPN array, which is accessible via Safari too, i.e. it doesn't need the Cisco VPN client.

    It's been tested on Touches, so you should be all good.

    Re. connecting to clear, I don't have any new news there, and yes, that makes for an issue. But if you're at an Oracle building, you probably have your laptop. This app gets you inside the firewall for targeted tasks while you're away.
  • jon.nevin
    Hi,
    I would love ago on this. At the moment I am using vcards and my mac address book.

    Cheers

    Jon
  • Kottcamp
    I'd like to try it out too.
  • Matthew
    I'd love to try it out.
  • andrews
    Hi, I'd like to try... Andy
  • Lennard
    Would love to try it ! Please send me the download link as well :-)
  • Matt Abrams
    Jake - can you shoot it my way...thanks...
  • bex
    will it work for non-oracle employees, who happen to be partners / ACEs / generally awesome?
  • I think you know the answer. No, unless you come back to the fold, or did you leave before the acquisition? Sorry dude.
  • Austin
    Send me the link. Thanks!
  • Rune
    I'd love to try it :)
  • Mason Kidd
    Just installed the app, and it works great. Really great to see all of this information coming together in such a useful and user friendly way.

    Is the source code available anywhere?
  • I'm glad you agree. I love how all this happened organically too. You can hit up Clayton for his source code. Rich documented the Connect API stuff.

    Did you have something specific in mind?
  • uvox
    i'm in too.
  • Justin Kestelyn
    Yeah, please send me the link!
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