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Yesterday data was stored in a database, but now Oracle is storing methods in the same way that it stored data. These methods are cartridges.

Oracle Cartridge Solutions Network Fund

Recently, Oracle offered contests for the best cartridges independently designed by programming experts. This showed Oracle's commitment to the new open CORBA standards, where cartridge development is encouraged by all vendors and where vendor obstacles such as interfaces and portability are resolved using the CORBA standards.

Entries were accepted in one of six categories:

• Education
• Multimedia
• Electronic commerce
• Legacy system interface
• Development tools
• Other

These categories might change in the future. Awards were also given for a detailed sales analysis of a new cartridge idea.

The Universal Data Server

Because Oracle is primarily a database vendor, it reengineered its database to fit into this new paradigm of cartridges, objects, and Java. The Universal Data Server will not only support Oracle's traditional procedures and functions written in PL/SQL, but it will extend PL/SQL as a language to build cartridges. The Universal Data Server will also support Java as a cartridge language. The implication , of course, is that Oracle is providing a Java virtual machine, a Java interpreter, within its own database.

These database cartridges are like the application server cartridges, but they are stored directly in the Oracle database and can be invoked by any applications or applets that are hooked into the Inter-Cartridge Exchange at a particular site.

The Oracle Alliance

Oracle Alliance is a part of Larry Ellison's vision regarding a networked economy. In this program, other hardware and software companies can form a partnership with Oracle. Once a company joins the Oracle Alliance, it gains access to Oracle technology and certain Oracle marketing tools. This network of products and services becomes available to Alliance members .

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Oracle brings five things to the table with this alliance:

• Worldwide market leadership
• Technology innovation
• Financial opportunities
• A new sales model
• The Oracle Alliance Program

A company that becomes an Alliance member has access to Oracle's worldwide sales network. Partners are described in special catalogs listing different types of products that many Oracle customers need. Partners also have access to special discounts and floor space at Oracle trade shows.

Many times, Alliance partners will work with specific sales regions because many of these companies are small. A small company selling an Oracle- related product can use the Alliance Program to gain contacts in its geographic region, which is probably well canvassed by the Oracle sales staff.

Alliance partners also have access to a large online database of Oracle technical documentation and information. Many times Oracle will offer its newest products to Alliance partners first. Both parties benefit from this arrangement. The partner obtains a pre-release of software that is needed to build a product, and Oracle obtains a more knowledgeable user to test database pre-releases.

Oracle Alliance Value Service

If you are thinking of starting a small Oracle startup company, one way is to join the Oracle Alliance Value Service. This yearly subscription gives you a full membership to the Oracle Alliance plus over $70,000 in software for around $2,000. The software you receive with this subscription is very complete:

• Oracle Workgroup Server 7.3
• Personal Oracle
• Oracle Lite
• Oracle Power Objects
• Objects for OLE
• Programmer/2000
• Oracle Web Developer Suite
• Designer/2000
• Developer/2000
• Oracle Cartridge Development Kit

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This is only a partial list. For current information and prices, which might have changed since press time, contact Oracle or visit its Web site: www.oracle.com.

As a member of Oracle Alliance, you can surf into secret places on the Oracle Web site that provide useful tools, documents, and introductory products.

Oracle Support

Oracle Support is the division of Oracle that provides the customer technical support after the purchase of the Oracle product. It is a worldwide division because customers all over the world require support at different times. With Oracle's huge share of the RDBMS market, it is critical that a large, organized support effort is in place, considering the complexity and scope of the products that Oracle offers. Oracle offers both automated support features using the World Wide Web and traditional technical support over the telephone or on site.

The Support Olympics: Bronze, Silver, or Gold?

When you purchase an Oracle product, depending on what it is and the terms you reach with your Oracle sales representative, you will probably receive a period of free support to get you started. After that, Oracle has three plans that cater to different needs and levels of support. The plans of the OracleMetals program are OracleBronze, OracleSilver, and OracleGold.

OracleBronze

Don't feel the need to reach for the gold medal. If you run an operation during normal business hours or you do not need 24- hour support, OracleBronze is probably the best and least expensive option for you. Analysts with expertise in problem resolution, bug reporting, and technical guidance are available by telephone during the normal business hours of your area, regardless of where you are in the world. Oracle uses local support centers to serve its worldwide clientele and draws on further expert knowledge from the Oracle Global Support Center.

Along with telephone support during your business hours, Oracle offers automated support for all levels of the OracleMetals program. Automated technical help is still available to Bronze members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Once important note for Bronze members: If your problem is upgraded to a severity level of 1, meaning it is very serious, you will receive 24-hour support.

OracleSilver

If you run mission-critical applications that are online all day and night or you have vital batch processes that depend on your Oracle products at night, OracleSilver is probably a cost-effective solution. With this plan, you can resolve any problem at any time of the day. Oracle rotates its support with the sun by locating main support centers in California, the U.K., and Australia. Like the British empire of old, the sun never sets on you if you purchase OracleSilver support.

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