Oracle acquires voice-software company

Oracle on Tuesday acquired voice-software company Indicast, whose technology allows people to use voice to access Web information, e-mail and other corporate data. Indicast was based in San Diego and privately owned. Financial terms were not released. The acquisition boosts Oracle's efforts in the mobile and wireless market. Oracle plans to build the voice software into its application server software, technology that runs Web site transactions. Oracle said companies can immediately start using the Indicast software as a hosted service. With the software, companies can build voice-based Web sites, which allow people to fetch information simply by making a phone call and speaking into the phone.