Oracle Corp has won the backing of IBM Corp and Apple Computer Inc for Power Objects, its cross-system answer to Microsoft Corp’s Visual Basic. It has also launched its Object Marketplace software development and distribution strategy that takes the first step to putting into practice what object technology was always intended to be all about – enabling users to mix and match component objects to put together the applications of their dreams. The Object Marketplace is part of the Oracle Store on the World Wide Web, and through it, Oracle will resell third-party Oracle Power Objects components and OCX controls, so that developers can go to the Object Marketplace to buy the pre-built components they need to assemble their application, and via Power Objects’ visual object model, developers will be able to customise objects further to meet their unique application requirements. Objects in the Object Marketplace will be organised by function, application and industry. The visual Power Objects programming tool supports cross-system development under Windows and Mac OS with OS/2 to be supported next year. Applications written using Power Objects can be moved from one system to another without recoding.Oracle Power Objects Client/Server Edition is $2,000, Oracle Power Objects Standalone Edition costs $400, for Windows or Mac OS.
