Slashgeo

Oracle is preparing new features for its Oracle 11 release this coming fall (MapViewer: AJAX Interface, OGC OpenLS, and 3D Coordinates – vertical datums & accurate height measurements among other things). Check this All Points Blog article or go directly to Oracle's website here

All Points Blog links to a NetworkWorld article where we learn IBM is developing location-base services. From the article: "IBM's India Research Lab has developed a location-based service for mobile phone users that helps mobile users to connect with both fixed and mobile businesses in their vicinity. [...] The business finder technology combines geographic information system (GIS) applications and data analysis with mobile telephone networks to provide information to a consumer who is looking for a specific nearby service, IBM said."

All Points Blog offers some interesting speculation about the future of GIS at IBM. From the blog: "Also consider this, both SAP and GE have now made some noise in the geospatial marketplace and CH2M HILL, a large systems integration/engineering firm, has as well. Could IBM be far behind? It's a big question since IBM indeed has geospatial software solutions already but have just never put it all together under a cohesive unit (see also DB2 Spatial Extender). I think the awareness generated by the large companies mentioned above make it irresistable for them not to enter or "re-enter" soon."

Alvaro Anguix writes "geoBD extension that allows access to spatial databases, modifying the old interface to access them is available in gvSIG. It also provides the Oracle Spatial connector to the spatial database connector already existing (PostGIS, MySQL, and HSQLDB) allowing the user to access to a any table from either Oracle Spatial or Oracle Locater (since Oracle 9i) containing a geometry column of type SDO GEOMETRY.

It is available in the Extensions (http://www.gvsig.gva.es/index.php?id=1652&L=2 <http://www.gvsig.gva.es/index.php?id=1652&L=2>) option from the Downloads section of the web page. Advice: To install this extension you must have correctly installed gvSIG 1.0.2 version.
Regards
Alvaro Anguix
IVER TI SA
www.gvsig.com
www.iver.es"

Safe Software writes "Safe Software, makers of the FME spatial ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load) platform has announced its plans to support Oracle Spatial 11g. Initial support will be for the advanced GeoRaster capabilities of Oracle Spatial 11g, followed by support for Oracle’s new 3D spatial type. By taking advantage of these new capabilities, Safe Software continues to extend the power of its industry-leading FME platform to address the advanced spatial ETL needs of the GIS and BIM communities. For more details, visit www.safe.com." Meanwhile, Vector One informs us Oracle is integrating Google Maps in its product suite, All Points Blog also discuss the implications.

hallkbrdz writes "Simon Greener's latest weblog post discuses the ways that users without the Oracle Enterprise Edition and Spatial option can still perform most common spatial functions using alternate methods or FOSS database packages: "This reflection has come about because of the many times I have gone to sites running Oracle Standard Edition (SE or SE1) that are, accidentally, using some of the “geoprocessing” functions in the SDO_GEOM package that are licensed only for use with Enterprise Edition (EE). Oracle XE adds to this confusion as it is shipped with the complete SDO_GEOM package. And, finally, the recent release of Oracle 11g continues the restricted use of certain SDO_GEOM package “geoprocessing” functions and their use in the related ST_* functions of the SQL3/MM (or OGC) type library."" APB also informs us of Oracle being targeted by SAP with their acquisition of Business Objects.

This press release informs us Oracle 11g will soon give direct access to DigitalGlobe's imagery: "Via Oracle Spatial, DigitalGlobe will provide real-time access to its extensive image library for applications such as logistics, supply chain, mobile field services, business intelligence and asset management. With the release of Oracle Database 11g, DigitalGlobe allows advanced access to sample imagery data via OTN enabling Oracle customers to test-drive imagery in their business applications before making a purchase decision." See also related stories below.

All Points Blog discuss Oracle and spatial data along with the recent deal between NAVTEQ and Oracle. From the press release: "Oracle today announced a multiyear, worldwide agreement with NAVTEQ, a leading global provider of digital maps for vehicle navigation and location-based solutions, to incorporate its boundary mapping data into Oracle Database 10g and other Oracle products. Including the NAVTEQ data will enable customers to more easily location-enable their critical business applications to reduce costs and increase productivity and revenue opportunities." Slashdot also discusses the recent Oracle inclination towards open source.