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Longtime rivals Microsoft and Oracle are combining cloud efforts to stave off competition from a slew of smaller companies with cheaper offerings that are slowly eclipsing the corporate giants, Reuters reports (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/24/us-microsoft-oracle-idUSBRE95N18Y20130624?irpc=932).
Under an agreement announced Monday, Microsoft will offer Oracle's Database, Java, and WebLogic Server to Azure customers. In return, Oracle has offered up Linux to the same user base, despite the obvious competitive forces at play between the software giants.
This public partnership marks a rare move for both companies, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer noted, adding, "In the world of cloud computing, I think behind-the-scenes collaboration is not enough."
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