Oracle spins off mobile company

Database giant Oracle has formed a separate, independent company to give easy access to the web from wireless devices.

Database giant Oracle has formed a separate, independent company to give easy access to the web from wireless devices.

Called OracleMobile.com, the company will work with Internet content providers such as Amazon.com, eBay and Etrade to offer their services on a variety of non-PC devices.

Larry Ellison, Oracle's chairman, said the company had developed a portal-to-go technology, that maps existing content onto phones. "Our technology takes existing Web content and gets it mobile in hours or days. Getting it to run smoothly was nightmarish.

"Now that we can do that, it's live and real. By 2002, every cell phone in the world will have access to the Web," he said.

Ellison said OracleMobile.com will do three things. It will be a consumer portal with content providers, a business hosting wireless activity for businesses and it will also be available to mobile carriers so they can map it themselves.

Ellison added: "Exactly the same technology is applicable to consumers and businesses. There are 50 million different devices around today and the technology is available all over the world."

Oracle has already partnered with Swedish telecommunications company Telia to create, develop and sell wireless Internet products outside the US. OracleMobile.com will work with additional partners in Europe and Asia.

Denise Lahey, OracleMobile's chief executive, said the company planned to "expand aggressively into the European market".

"This is the first time we are integrating personal information with mobile services. We are providing an integrated calendar and contacts with mobile services as well as links."

She said the web-enabled and voice-enabled services would be rolled out over the next couple of months. Turnover for the mobile company will be generated on transactions made over the service, advertising, and services offered to manage wireless web efforts.