Microsoft Corp is looking towards an unexpected source to further .NET uptake - database adversary Oracle Corp, writes Gavin Clarke.
The Redmond, Washington-based company yesterday launched enhanced support for Oracle database products, with the .NET Framework Data Provider for Oracle. Data Provider for Oracle is available for download from Microsoft"s web site.
The Data Provider for Oracle provides extensions to Oracle"s database. So far, the .NET Framework, which underpins .NET, has been optimized for just Microsoft"s SQL Server.
The extensions are designed to increase performance of .NET applications that extract data from inside a customer"s Oracle database, and also speed application development.