Oracle, Motorola to Form Wireless Net Venture

Oracle Corp., the world’s largest database-software maker, will form an independent company to develop wireless Internet-access technology, and will unveil a partnership tomorrow with Motorola Inc., the companies said. Motorola will be one of the firms making the cell phones and other devices that use the wireless technology, said Motorola spokesman David Rudd. The new company will use Oracle’s software with Motorola’s voice-command recognition technology, he said. Redwood City, Calif.-based Oracle will spin off its division developing the software, dubbed Portal-to-Go, that allows users to access the Internet from devices other than a computer, Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison said last month. The moves are part of Oracle’s effort to tap into the growing market for technology to access the Net from cell phones. The market is expected to grow to $13.2 billion a year by 2003 from $1.8 billion now, according to Boston-based market researcher Yankee Group. Oracle shares fell $3.06 to $58.56 Friday. Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola fell $2.31 to $144.94.