Oracle has announced its successor to the hugely successful Oracle8 database software, which will further extend its capabilities in six key areas. Code-named Emerald, its enhanced features are expected to be in the areas of Java and application development, internet computing, high availability and scalability, data warehousing, extended data types and operational simplicity. Emerald is scheduled for release by the end of 1998. With Oracle8, Oracle saw its database business grow by 25 per cent in the US, and charted record database revenues for the fourth quarter which ended May 31st, 1998.

"Oracle8 has been a big success in every category and has solidified and expanded Oracle's leadership in the database market," says Mr Fergus Gloster, support manager, Oracle Ireland.