Oracle stretches beyond its database roots
At its customer conference, Oracle details its plans in content management and application servers.
The company said Wednesday that early next year, it will complete work on new content management server software, called Oracle Files 10g. It also released different editions of its application server software, including a version specifically designed for integration.
As previously reported, Oracle is looking to expand its software infrastructure, or middleware, product line through internal development, even as it pursues large-scale acquisitions, notably PeopleSoft's packaged application business.
With Oracle Files 10g, Oracle said it has designed a product that can be used for a broad set of applications. Existing content management software tends to be tailored to specific problems in vertical industries, according to Oracle executives.
The new software has tools for document management, file management and sharing, security and work flow. Oracle will sell the content management as an add-on to its Oracle Collaboration Suite 10g, or separately.
Oracle also introduced different editions of its Application Server 10g, which is software to build and run Java business applications. An upgrade called Oracle Application Server 10g release 2 will be released incrementally, starting later this month and continuing to early next year.
The company, which is trying to take business away from market share leaders IBM and BEA Systems, created different editions of its application server line in order to better compete, said Rick Schultz, the vice president of application server market at Oracle.
By breaking up its server suite into different versions, Oracle can better sell individual components, such as its Java-based portal or integration software, to customers who have already installed integration software from BEA, IBM or another company, he said.
Release 2 of the Oracle Application Server 10g complies with the Java 2 Enterprise Edition 1.4 specification and includes features for business intelligence and Web service application development.