HP to incorporate Oracle Mid-Range Software

Hewlett-Packard Company announced that Oracle Corporation's midrange/middleware software programs will be bundled on HP products that are based on Oracle Corporation's Oracle 9i application server. HP and Oracle have reportedly entered into a three-year agreement to develop, produce, sell and distribute software based on the Oracle 9i. HP also announced that it will offer a "free" version of the Oracle 9i application server to customers who purchase HP's proprietary HP-UX midrange systems and HP's ProLiant servers that use Intel processors for Linux and Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. By providing the application server to HP customers at no additional charge, Oracle is hoping to fuel customer interest in other Oracle software products that provide portal, integration and business intelligence functions. HP discontinued its multi-million dollar investment in its midrange/middleware products business after the HP-Compaq merger was concluded. The HP-Oracle announcement follows HP's recent announcement that it will bundle BEA's WebLogic application server with HP's high-end computers in order to directly compete with rival, I.B.M. Corporation.