Oracle is buying Portal Software for $220m (£129m) to
offer its media company customers an easier way to bill their
subscribers.
Oracle said Portal Software's billing and revenue management
software will complement its existing applications sold to media
companies.
Oracle president Charles Phillips said, “We supply technology
and applications to over 90% of communications companies worldwide,
and billing is a logical and complementary addition for those
customers.”
The acquisition follows Oracle’s other buys of suppliers serving
niche markets. Oracle has bought retail industry supplier Retek and
financial services market specialist iFlex in the past year.
Portal Software supplies packaged applications that can be used
by media companies to bill for multiple services, such as
broadband, standard and IP-based voice calls, and wireless
connectivity.
Portal Software employees will now form the basis of a new
communications business unit within the Oracle group, said the
company.