Novell Inc is not going to repeat the mistake of trying to do everything that Microsoft Corp does, but off a much smaller base, but the company is no less keen on putting one over on the Microsofties than ever it was, and anyone that regards itself as a Microsoft Enemy is fair game for a Novell alliance. Immediately following on the company’s plans to form Novonyx Inc as a joint venture with Netscape Communications Corp (CI No 3,126), it yesterday joined forces with Oracle Corp to simplify and accelerate the move to Network Computing for millions of Novell and Oracle customers. Under the agreement, Novell will integrate and ship Oracle’s new Web Application Server 3.0 with IntranetWare, Web Server and Novell Directory Services, while Oracle will create a dedicated Novell Products Division to pursue technology integration and joint sales, marketing, education and support activities with Novell. The two reckon they have a golden opportunity to capitalize on the fact that Novell and Oracle still respectively own 60% and 40% of the installed base in their core markets, and the alliance is intended to work to accelerate the ability to deploy Java-based Network Computing applications with their existing enterprise and workgroup systems.
