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Oracle Announces New Database, File System with Internet Features

On Monday, Oracle Corp. previewed its new Oracle8i database in New York City. The new database contains a Java server and what Oracle says is the world's first database-resident Java Virtual Machine. According to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, Oracle's JVM has faster garbage collection, uses significantly less memory per user, and serves Java applications that are compiled instead of interpreted.

Thanks to the embedded JVM, Java applications will be able to run directly inside the Oracle8i environment. Ellison said he believes such Web-based applications, which run on the server and are accessed with a browser, will eventually replace all existing client/server applications.

Oracle also announced it will release a new product called the Internet File System, which enables Windows-based documents stored in proprietary file formats such as Word and Excel to be imported into the database using a drag-and-drop procedure. The files are parsed and can then be viewed in a standard Web browser. -- Michele Rosen, Staff Reporter/New York Correspondent

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.