NEW YORK - Oracle Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc., escalating their challenge to Microsoft Corp., plan to announce Monday a pact to sell new business computers that try to blunt the dominance of Microsoft's operating software.
Analysts familiar with the partnership said Sunday that Oracle's database software and Sun's computers would let employees access computer files using devices that don't require the operating system that runs the basic functions of a computer. Instead, the new database program requires only a tiny part of an operating system, known as a kernel.
Oracle is the No. 1 maker of database software and Sun is a major maker of powerful business computers that compete with machines running on Windows NT, Microsoft's popular software for corporate computers.
Company officials could not be reached for comment Sunday but said last week they planned an announcement today. It was not clear when the products would be ready for sale.
