Oracle Switches on to Net News

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is expecting consumers to use set-top boxes to watch television while they surf the Net, echoing the views of Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.

Speaking at Comdex Spring to launch Custom News, a personalised news service from CNN and Oracle, Ellison said: ?It is possible to blend customised internet and broadcasts in set-top boxes. I see excitement in interactivity while watching broadcasts.?

Ellison followed a similar argument to the one voiced by Gates at the Win HEC developers? conference in February, when he said the next release of Windows, codenamed Memphis, will include TV alongside internet-based information.

Custom News is an addition to CNN?s Web site, which allows surfers to personalise their news feed on the site in a similar way to Yahoo. Ellison claimed it improves on services from ?push? vendors such as Pointcast, because the information resides on servers and only the chosen content is downloaded, saving bandwidth. Personal content is also accessible from any browser.

Thirty-two news bureaux, including global agencies, will supply Custom News. But the news content has limited appeal to those outside the US, although CNN representatives said European custom services would be developed.

Officials claimed the site would not damage CNN?s supply agreement with Pointcast because customers can choose to stick with Pointcast or to personalise their Custom News feed.

Custom News uses Oracle?s Con Text software, part of Universal Server, for searches. Con Text reads articles using linguistic tools to index both words and themes.