Oracle and its affiliate, Network Computer Incorporated (NCI), have announced that they intend to licence Lotus eSuite software, a set of Java-based productivity applets.

Oracle intends to offer the eSuite applets as an option to its Web-based collaboration and database messaging product, Oracle InterOffice.

NCI plans to offer eSuite as an option to customers who purchase its NC Desktop for network computers. Designed to reduce the cost of computing while increasing productivity, the eSuite software is expected to speed up deployment of Internet, intranet and extranet (I-net) applications.

Lotus Development Corporation's Irish operation is localising the new Lotus eSuite software, which is due for worldwide release in the first quarter of 1998.