Oracle Corp is targeting the business-to-business e-commerce market by setting up an online forum to connect suppliers and buyers. Oracle Exchange works like a traditional marketplace says Giuseppe Rossi, marketing manager for discreet manufacturing in the EMEA region. Running on all major flavors of Unix and NT but not the AS/400 platform, Exchange will provide a choice between a managed or server-based service. Oracle is also creating Oracle Supplier Network to build up a list of suppliers for potential customers to choose from. Among firms already signed up are Compaq Computer Corp, Dun & Bradstreet Inc and barnesandnoble.com. Oracle derives money from subscriptions to the services, although the company has yet to decide how much. Exchange will be available this quarter in the US, and probably next quarter in Europe, Rossi says.
