ORACLE: Oracle triples the reach of the Internet
OCT 12, 1999, M2 Communications - Ships New Internet Software "Oracle
Portal-to-Go" GENEVA, TELECOM'99, October 12, 1999-Oracle Corp., the
number one choice for e-business, today announced the availability of
its Oracle(R) Portal-to-Go wireless Internet software, the world's
first extension of e-business and Internet access to the wireless
world. Virtually tripling the reach of the Internet, Oracle
Portal-to-Go (formerly code-named "Project Panama") will allow any
wireless device to access Internet content and e-services.
Fundamentally, it will transform telecommunications companies into a
new generation of "wireless e-service providers," and enable any
business or content provider to tap the full potential of the wireless
market. "The cell phone removed the physical constraints caused by
wires that connected users to the 'network'at least for voice traffic;
however, data users largely have been unable to connect to the Internet
without wires. That is about to change," according to GartnerGroup,
"Wireless Access: An E-Business Growth Hormone", September 1999 report.
"By 2005, more than 1 billion mobile phones will be in use worldwide
(0.7 probability). By contrast, the number of PC-based Internet users
will not even exceed the number of mobile phones currently in use
worldwide (305 million) before 2002. If e-business is a byproduct of
the Internet evolution; wireless access technologies are a growth
enabler for e-business." Oracle Portal-to-Go is Internet software which
enables virtually any wireless device to access any existing web or
database application or content, including secure e-business
applications. By extending Internet access beyond today's PC-based
access points to the 305 million wireless handsets in use, Oracle
Portal-to-Go opens the door to a rapidly expanding market that is three
times larger than that of today's Internet users. It will allow
wireless carriers to provide a host of new e-services to their
customers. "As a key Internet content provider, we are very excited at
the prospect of being able to increase our reach threefold overnight.
We see the wireless category as a big opportunity for us, since
research has indicated that driving directions are the most frequently
requested wireless application," said David Ingerman, vice president,
Marketing of Mapquest (MQST). "With Oracle Portal-to-Go, Mapquest will
reach users on any wireless device and we don't have to rewrite our
content or worry about the standards involved."
Built on Oracle's Internet database software, Oracle Portal-to-Go is
standards based and highly-scaleable to meet the high-volume demand
requirements of the telecommunications market. Without limiting
wireless carriers to a single, proprietary format, or type of device,
Oracle Portal-to-Go instantly and automatically translates Internet and
database content into whatever format a user's device requires.
Carriers are freed to focus on reducing churn by building value-added,
localized services instead of scrambling to re-code content every time
a standard changes or technology improves. Combining Oracle
Portal-to-Go's web, database and security features, wireless carriers
can instantly become broad range e-commerce service providers.
Built on Oracle Portal-to-Go, global telecom giants, including
Cegetel, E-Plus, Libertel and Telia Mobile, have already developed a
broad array of new e-services such as mobile e-travel, mobile banking,
ticket purchasing, flight information, real-time auctions, mobile stock
trading, mobile messaging and mobile contact management. In as little
as a few hours, carriers can create and deploy new wireless e-business
services.
"This creates a tremendous new opportunity for us," said Pat McVey,
CEO of OpenSky. "Oracle Portal-to-Go will allow us to offer an array of
customized e-services to our mobile users, as well as extend the rich
content of the Internet. Oracle Portal-to-Go gives us unparalleled
flexibility and scaleability in designing Internet services for any
wireless device without writing a single line of code."
Oracle Corporation is the world's leading supplier of software for
information management, and the world's second largest software
company. With annual revenues of more than $9.1 billion, the company
offers its database, application server, tools and application
products, along with related consulting, education and support
services, in more than 145 countries around the world. For more
information about Oracle, please call 650/506-7000. Oracle's World Wide
Web address is (URL) oracle.com. |
