Oracle Announces Oracle8i Release 3

Oracle Corp, one of the largest providers of software for e-business, announced the pending availability of Oracle8i Release 3, the third generation of an industry leading Internet database. The new release will incorporate the latest Java and XML technologies as well as advanced, triple Data Encryption Standard (Triple DES) for enhanced data protection in the database. The combination of Oracle8i Release 3, Oracle Internet Application Server 8i (Oracle iAS) and Oracle Internet Developer Suite comprise the next generation of the Oracle Internet Platform, Oracle's complete and simple platform for Internet computing. In contrast to competitors' e-business blueprints that have been recently announced and that are years away from completion, the Oracle Internet Platform-including virtually all the technology software needed to become an e-business-is available today.

"With the announcement of Oracle8i Release 3 and Oracle iAS, the Oracle Internet Platform now offers a common security model, messaging, Java, XML and transactional capabilities across both the database and application server tiers," said Carl Olofson, research analysts at International Data Corporation (IDC). "This ultimately speeds development and deployment of Oracle-based e-business applications and eliminates many of the integration headaches faced by customers with time-to-market or competitive concerns."

With Oracle8i Release 3, Oracle has added:

• Common Java and XML Services between Oracle8i Release 3 and Oracle Internet Application Server 8i
• Oracle8i JVM (formerly Oracle JServer) -- Oracle now provides identical, highly scalable Java Virtual Machine capabilities across server tiers. This includes common EJB support including support for Entity Beans.
• Java Servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSP) -- the hot topics at this year's Oracle iDevelop Conference, Java Servlets and JavaServer Pages are rapidly becoming a key enabling technology for enterprise portal and Web site development.

Java 2 Enterprise Edition APIs includes Java Messaging Services (Java JMS), Java Transaction Services (JTS) and JDBC. Oracle8i JVM Accelerator provides native compiled Java code for greatly enhanced Java performance. XML SQL Utility makes reading and writing XML documents in their native formats easier than ever before. Oracle8i Release 3 allows relational data to be searched, queried and retained in its original XML format.

Powerful New Security Features, including Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption of HTTP connections, triple DES in the database, and integration with Entrust Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

PL/SQL gateway for HTTP enables HTTP calls to be made directly to PL/SQL.

"One of the reasons that Oracle is the leading database vendor is that we continue to innovate faster than any of our competitors. We've focused on introducing genuine software innovations that customers can use to create competitive advantage," said Chuck Rozwat, executive vice president, Server Technologies at Oracle Corporation. "Oracle8i Release 3 continues our track record of providing powerful new capabilities ahead of the competition, especially those capabilities that are important to becoming an e-business. We offer the most comprehensive Java support of any database, the most extensive XML support and the best security. Look for Oracle to continue to set the pace for what's possible with database technology in the age of e-business."

Oracle8i, the most rapidly adopted database software in Oracle's history, manages and secures relational data, multimedia and 150+ different file types. To date, over 25,000 customers have licensed Oracle8i, and 1.3 million copies have been downloaded by developers from Oracle Technology Network. Oracle8i was recently awarded the "Best Database for Java," by the editors of Java Developer's Journal. Additionally, Oracle was recently found to be the worldwide database market leader by both IDC and Gartner Group's Dataquest for 1999.

Availability and Pricing

Oracle plans to make Oracle8i Release 3 available in Summer 2000. At that time, Oracle8i Release, both Standard and Enterprise Edition, will come bundled with business-to-business workflow and standard management packs free-of -charge. These former options to the database were previously priced and sold separately.

About Oracle Corporation

Oracle Corporation provides the software that powers the Internet. For more information about Oracle, please call 650-506-7000.

Contact Kristin Kryway of Oracle Corporation, 650-607-2552 or kristin.kryway@oracle.com