Richard,
Completely agree.
FYI - Announced yesterday
NETSCAPE AND ORACLE SIGN STRATEGIC
AGREEMENT TO INTEGRATE AND DISTRIBUTE
FLAGSHIP PRODUCTS
ORACLE SELECTS NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR AS PREFERRED INTERNET
CLIENT FOR ORACLE'S INTEL-BASED NC; NETSCAPE SELECTS ORACLE
AS PREFERRED DATABASE FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
MOUNTAIN VIEW and REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. (October 28) -- Netscape Communications
Corporation and Oracle Corporation today announced two strategic agreements through which the companies
will integrate, market and distribute each others' products. This effort brings together Oracle's market leading
Oracle Universal Server and NC products with Netscape Commercial Applications for the Internet and
Netscape's market-leading Netscape Navigator.
Specifically, Oracle will bundle Netscape Navigator with the Intel-based NC software operating environment
produced by Oracle's wholly owned subsidiary, Network Computer, Inc. Netscape Navigator will be a standard
feature of the Intel-based NCs, which are expected to ship in the first half of 1997. Oracle will not offer other
third-party browser products bundled with its Intel-based NCs. Additionally, this agreement establishes
Netscape Navigator as Oracle's preferred third-party Internet client for selected future Oracle products.
In the second agreement, Oracle enterprise and workgroup database servers will be the only databases bundled
with Netscape Commercial Applications, including Netscape Merchant System, Netscape Publishing System and
Netscape Community System. Netscape will not offer non-Oracle database software bundled with these
Commercial Applications. The agreement establishes Oracle Universal Server as Netscape's preferred database
for Commercial Applications, and Netscape will also bring Oracle Universal Server-based versions of Netscape
LiveWire Pro and Netscape SuiteSpot server family to the market, adding these to its current product lines.
These agreements combine the companies' complementary market leading products. Netscape Navigator is
credited with 80 percent market share according to recent industry reports and Netscape Commercial
Applications are used by many leading sites on the Internet. Oracle Universal Server is the industry's leading
database with 42 percent market share according to International Data Corp. (1996).
"The popularity of Netscape speaks for itself," said Oracle Chairman and CEO Larry Ellison. "While we are
enormous proponents of supporting all client technologies, there are times when it's more appropriate to select a
closer alliance partner. We've chosen to work with Netscape. Netscape Navigator has earned its place as
market leader and we are pleased to be offering it as our preferred Internet client."
"Oracle is the market leader in information management systems. Offering Oracle Universal Server as a standard
for our commercial applications gives us scalability, reliability and secure transaction processing our customers
demand. This agreement is a significant commitment between Netscape and Oracle that will benefit the exploding
market for on-line applications," said Netscape President and CEO James Barksdale. |
