NETSCAPE AND ORACLE SIGN STRATEGIC AGREEMENT TO INTEGRATE AND DISTRIBUTE FLAGSHIP PRODUCTS
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. Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools and commercial applications to create a complete platform for next-generation, live on-line applications. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "NSCP," Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California. Additional information on Netscape Communications Corporation is available on the Internet at http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com or by calling 415/937-2555 (corporations) or 415/937-3777 (individuals).
Oracle Corp. is the world's second largest software company, and the largest supplier of software for information management. With annual revenues of more than $4.2 billion, the company offers its database, tools and application products, along with related consulting, education, and support services, in more than 90 countries around the world.
For more information about Oracle, please contact Oracle's headquarters at 415/506-7000. Oracle's World Wide Web address is http://www.oracle.com/.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. Oracle7 is a trademark of Oracle Corporation. NC is a trademark of Network Computer, Inc.
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Netscape, the Netscape Communications Corporation logo, Netscape Navigator, Netscape Commercial Applications and Netscape are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation.