Oracle To Continue Building Software for H-P's Itanium Computers

09/04/2012| 08:26pm US/Eastern

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   By Nathalie Tadena 
 

Oracle Corp. (>> Oracle Corporation) said it would continue building the latest versions of its database and other software for Hewlett-Packard Co.'s (>> Hewlett-Packard Company) Itanium computers after a judge recently ruled that Oracle is contractually obligated to develop software for the high-profile server systems for as long as H-P sells them.

The ruling from a state court judge in California last month was an important victory for H-P, whose sales have been hurt by the prospect that future versions of Oracle programs would not run on some of its flagship hardware. The litigation stemmed from Oracle's announcement in March 2011 that it would stop developing new versions of its popular database software for H-P servers that use a line of Intel Corp. (>> Intel Corporation) chips known as Itanium.

Late Tuesday, Oracle said software on HP's Itanium computers will be released on approximately the same schedule as Oracle software on International Business Machines Corp.'s (>> International Business Machines Corp.) Power systems.

Strength in Oracle's traditional software business has led to improved earnings in recent periods. The technology giant in June reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 7.5% as software revenue improved, though services and hardware-systems revenue declined.

Oracle shares closed at $31.57 and were unchanged after hours. The stock has climbed 21% over the past three months.

Write to Nathalie Tadena at nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com

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