Oracle to Introduce Beefed Up 9i Database

“Looking to jump-start sales in the face of stiff competition and a nasty economy, Oracle is set to disclose plans for new software and a revamped version of its flagship database-management application at a customer conference in San Francisco next week. […] The new release of Oracle 9i database, which will be available early next year, will better handle XML (Extensible Markup Language) data, a Web standard for data exchange that lets companies construct e-commerce and new Web services applications, said Oracle executives.” In related news, Microsoft released Service Pack 2 for SQL Server 2000. Because SQL Server Service Packs are cumulative, SP2 includes all fixes from previously released Service Pack 1 (SP1), and can be applied to an original installation or to one where Service Pack 1 (SP1) was previously applied.