Like a number of users running both vendors' software, Thyken said he hopes that Oracle integrates its ERP software with Siebel's products at some point.

However, he added, large mergers 'are big and difficult projects. I would rather they take their time and do it right the first time rather than rush a half-baked integration out the door to please analysts.'

'We don't have any expectations that this is going to be a quick merger,' noted Robert Martens, director of global front-office technology at Ingersoll-Rand Co. 'We're expecting it to be a longer-haul project.'

The Hamilton, Bermuda-based provider of services and products to the transportation and other industries runs Siebel CRM, both in-house and through the OnDemand hosted format.

In the near term, Martens said he hopes Oracle, which provides his company with back-end CRM software, will create an OnDemand 'global solution' by adding data centers throughout the world.