Oracle sets up embedded business unit in Asia

Oracle this week announced plans to establish an embedded software business unit in Asia-Pacific, marking a break from the company’s traditional focus on the corporate computing market.

Embedded software is used in a wide range of devices, and is generally tailored to a specific device. The new business unit, the first for the company, will work with electronics makers and software developers to embed Oracle software into a range of different devices, including handsets, home appliances, and automobiles.

Oracle said its embedded software business grew 60 percent worldwide, and by more than 200 percent in Asia, during its 2005 fiscal year. The company did not break out revenue figures for embedded software.

Over the next year, Oracle plans to develop embedded versions of its main software products, including Database 10g Enterprise and Oracle Application Server 10g. Down the road, the company will also develop embedded versions of more products, such as Oracle E-Business Suite, it said in a statement.

Along with the creation of an embedded software business unit in Asia, the company plans to establish embedded research and development (R&D) labs in several Asian countries: South Korea, China, Singapore, Japan and India. These labs will be created within existing R&D centers set up by Oracle.