For the long term, Oracle will also offer a "sustaining" level of support, which permits customer access to the company's MetaLink technical assistance offering as well as pre-existing fixes. That support option, however, won't include security, tax or legal updates. Customers can, however, purchase specific fixes for an additional fee.

Oracle also said it is extending the EnterpriseOne XE premier support through 2013. It originally planned to halt support in 2007.

That's welcome news to at least one user group.

"One of the ongoing fears of users is desupport," said Pat Dues, president of the independent Oracle Applications Users Group (OAUG). Customers have been worried that as Oracle pushes on with Fusion, their applications will be left behind. Dues said more specific information is needed about issues such as what the increased costs might be, and she noted that the cost of maintaining applications on some older hardware platforms is likely to rise.

Dues added that OAUG's customer support council will be working with Oracle on such matters.