Oracle finds more app server staff off H-101

Collaxa coming on board

By Ashlee Vance in Chicago • Get more from this author

Posted in Applications, 16th June 2004 22:23 GMT

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Oracle has turned to acquisition once again to strengthen its application server product, according to a report. The database maker is set to announce its purchase of startup Collaxa at Sun Microsystems' JavaOne conference later this month.

Oracle hopes to make use of Collaxa's business processes management tools in Oracle Application Server 10g, sources told IDG News Service. Collaxa is based just down the road from Oracle and is run by Edwin Khodabakchian, former CTO of AOL's eCommerce division where he must have seen some really fantastic, as in horrendous, things. Since deciding to go after IBM and BEA in the application server market, Oracle has not been shy about purchasing outside help. It found HP's old Bluestone team thumbing a ride off the New Jersey Turnpike last year.

Oracle has not completed the acquisition as of yet, but it's "putting the finishing touches" on deal, according to IDG News Service.

"This is going to significantly improve (Oracle's) ability to manage business processes," said one source.

Collaxa sells a product called BPEL Server that, not surprisingly ,supports the BPEL (Business Process Execution Language) specification. And Collaxa is no stranger to other Web services protocols, including XML, SOAP and WSDL. There is more on BPEL Server here.

It could be a bit embarrassing for Sun Microsystems when Oracle announces the news at Sun's JavaOne show. Sun has been trying for years to regain share against IBM and BEA in the app server market and has so far failed to do so. Oracle, on the other hand, has made steady gains. At last check, IDC showed Oracle holding 19 percent market share in app server revenue behind IBM's 29 percent share and BEA's 26 percent share. Sun was still in a holding pattern at 3.5 percent share. ®