Oracle Continues Push Into Cloud Computing With RightNow Deal

Oracle Corp. said it is buying customer-service software maker RightNow Technologies Inc. for $1.43 billion in cash, continuing a recent push into the fast-growing field of cloud computing.

The deal marks the first time Oracle has bought a company that sells application programs accessed primarily over the Internet, a segment known as software as a service. The acquisition comes shortly after Oracle introduced several internally developed applications that are accessed in the "cloud," a catchall term for online data and programs.

Oracle made online software a centerpiece in its user conference earlier this month. The Redwood Shores, Calif., company said it would launch its own "cloud" where businesses could store data and access programs. It also said that many of its own software programs would be available on its "cloud."

RightNow is another arrow in Oracle's online quiver. The Bozeman, Mont., company's software is used by call centers and help desks to help improve customer service. It reported revenue of $186 million in the fiscal year ended in December, up from $153 million a year earlier.

Cigna is buying HealthSpring, Oracle will acquire RightNow and Mattel will acquire HIT Entertainment. WSJ's Deal Journal Writer Shira Ovide reports in this Markets Hub "Merger Monday" edition.

In a press release and online presentation, Oracle said it planned to add RightNow's software to its own portfolio of online offerings, which include programs for managing sales and marketing and human resources. An Oracle spokeswoman declined to comment beyond the materials.

Oracle is purchasing RightNow as the market for online software has swelled, outstripping the growth in traditional software. Sales of online software, which was $10 billion in 2010, is expected to more than double to $21.3 billion in 2015, research firm Gartner said. Traditional software, which businesses install on equipment they own, is much larger—$104 billion in 2010, according to Gartner, but growing much slower.

"It's a sign of future acquisitions" for Oracle, said Ray Wang, an analyst at Constellation Research. He said Oracle may snap up more companies in the fragmented online software market, which currently doesn't have a large company that sells a wide variety of programs.

In another sign of growth for the online software segment, Workday Inc., which makes online human resources software, said Monday that it raised an additional $85 million in venture-capital funding.

Recently, Oracle has acquired several companies that make technology that could be used to enhance other online software offerings. Last week, Oracle said it was buying Endeca Technologies Inc., which makes tools that help businesses analyze data, for an undisclosed amount.

Oracle offered $43 a share for RightNow and said the deal, expected to close by early next year, is valued at about $1.5 billion net of RightNow's cash and debt.

Monday, Oracle shares were up 75 cents, or 2.3%, to $32.87 in 4 p.m. trading on the Nasdaq. RightNow shares were up $6.98, or 19%, to $42.94.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204644504576650840030555666.html#ixzz1bkErH1Uq

Arizona Cardinals' Beanie Wells doesn't need surgery on knee, Ken Whisenhunt says

"I think it's good because at one point yesterday (Sunday), we thought he might be done for the year," Whisenhunt said. "Now, it certainly doesn't appear that way."

Whisenhunt declined to reveal more information on the injury and wouldn't put a timeline on when Wells will play again. "I don't want to set the young man up for failure, if he gets out there Wednesday (in practice) and it's a struggle."

Wells took a hit on the knee during the second quarter on Sunday against the Steelers. He had swelling and did not return.

Wells wouldn't say much about the injury other than he had significant swelling and it wasn't related to the surgery he had performed on the same knee a year ago.

"I don't really remember when it happened," Wells said. "I know I took a (hit) early in the first quarter and the second quarter I kind of felt something in there and took another shot."

If Wells can't play on Sunday in Baltimore, Alfonso Smith is likely to start, but LaRod Stephens-Howling and Chester Taylor likely would play there, too. "It will be a little bit of back-by-committee," Whisenhunt said when asked who would play if Wells was out.

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The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP): What you need to know

On Monday, the federal government announced that it would revise the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), implementing changes that The Washington Post’s Zachary A. Goldfarb reported would “allow many more struggling borrowers to refinance their mortgages at today’s ultra-low rates, reducing monthly payments for some homeowners and potentially providing a modest boost to the economy.”

The HARP program, which was rolled out in 2009, is designed to help. Those who are “underwater” on their homes and owe more than the homes are worth. So far, The Post reported, it has reached less than one-tenth of the 5 million borrowers it was designed to help. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know about the changes.

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 Flashback: Last year, some mortgage lenders and government officials took action after discovering that many mortgage documents were mishandled.

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 Metropolitan areas with the most expensive sales prices for single-family homes in the first quarter of 2011, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.

What was announced? The enhancements will allow some homeowners who are not currently eligible to refinance to do so under HARP. The changes cut fees for borrowers who want to refinance into short-term mortgages and some other borrowers. They also eliminate a cap that prevented “underwater” borrowers who owe more than 125 percent of what their property is worth from accessing the program.

Am I eligible? To be eligible, you must have a mortgage owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, sold to those agencies on or before May 31, 2009. The current loan-to-value ratio on the mortgage must be greater than 80 percent. Having a mortgage that was previously refinanced under the program disqualifies you from the program. Borrowers cannot not have missed any mortgage payments in the past six months and cannot have had more than one missed payment in the past 12 months.

How do I take advantage of HARP? According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the first step borrowers should take is to see whether their mortgages are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. If so, borrowers should contact lenders that offer HARP refinances.

When do the changes go into effect? The FHFA is expected to publish final changes in November. According to a fact sheet on the program, the timing will vary by lender.

Related stories:

Government announces new program to help ‘underwater’ homeowners

Obama’s efforts to aid homeowners, boost housing market fall far short of goals

The McRib makes a McComeback

McDonald's announced Monday that the boneless barbecue pork sandwich, usually available in only a few stores at a time, will be sold at all U.S. locations through Nov. 14.

Most of the time, it's up to local franchises to determine when and if they want to sell the McRib — except in Germany, the only place where it's always available.

McDonald's said the response was so great last November when it made the McRib available nationally for about three weeks that it decided to bring it back nationwide this year. The company, which previously hadn't sold the McRib nationally since 1994, declined to give sales numbers.

The sandwich, which is dressed with onions, pickle slices and barbecue sauce, was introduced nationally in 1982. With 500 calories and 26 grams of fat, it's slightly trimmer than the Big Mac, which has 540 calories and 29 grams of fat. And just like the Big Mac, the McRib has become a popular McDonald's offering.

There are Facebook groups such as "Bring Back the McRib!!!" There are Twitter tags, where posts range from "Lucky me, the McRib is back" to "If you eat McRibs, you need to re-evaluate what it is you actually want in life."

Last year, the guy who won McDonald's $1 million Monopoly grand prize was ordering — you guessed it — a McRib. Earlier this month, former Playmate Jenny McCarthy contacted the McRib Locator website for help finding a McRib in southern California: She found one in Fountain Valley.

The website's creator, Alan Klein, said he suspected something was up when traffic exploded from about 150 hits a day to about 4,000 in the past week or so, as more fans reported sightings. People are sending him photos of their McRib variations: the McRib with lettuce and tomato, the McRib with bacon, three McRibs stacked on top of each other.

Klein, a meteorologist in the Minneapolis area, runs the website in his spare time with help from his wife, Kimberly. He created the Locator in 2008 because he wanted to learn how to use the Google Maps program for work, and because he had fond memories of eating the pork sandwich while growing up on a hog farm.

"We've been spoiled this year and last year with it being around nationwide," he said. "But I hope it stays elusive, because otherwise nobody will come to our website."

If the McRib is so popular, why not just offer it all the time? McDonald's likes to stoke the enthusiasm with an aura of transience.

"Bringing it back every so often adds to the excitement," said Marta Fearon, McDonald's U.S. marketing director, who said she's not sure if the McRib will reappear every fall.

And how can it be called a McRib if it doesn't have any bones? Said Fearon: "That gives it this quirky sense of humor."

DeMarco Murray: Cowboys Rookie Sets Rushing Record But Aware Felix Jones May Hold Job (VIDEO)

If your Internet was running a little slow early Sunday evening, it was probably due to the massive influx of Fantasy Football team owners feverishly attempting to add Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray to their rosters.

Who can blame them?

With Dallas' first-string running back Felix Jones out with an injury, the rookie out of Oklahoma saw his first extended action. It didn't take Murray long to prove he belonged: He ran for a 91-yard touchdown on his very first carry of the game, the second-longest rushing touchdown in Cowboys history.

Although Tony Dorsett's 99-yard touchdown scamper still holds the top spot in franchise annals, Murray wasn't done assaulting the record books. By the time that Dallas had put the finishing touches on its 34-7 stampede of the Rams, the rookie runner set a franchise record for rushing yards in a game with 253. In doing so, he surpassed someone named Emmitt Smith. You might have heard of him.

While the performance certainly caught the NFL off-guard, fans of the University of Oklahoma (not to mention, its rival in Austin) were already aware of how explosive Murray can be when healthy.

Interestingly, the performance came at the expense of his former teammate, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who played with Murray at Oklahoma. Bradford was forced to sit out the game against the Cowboys as a result of injury. "It was great," Bradford said of Murray's performance to The Oklahoman. "Obviously, I would love to see him have that type of performance against anyone else but us."

After the game, Murray was diplomatic when asked if he his big game would make him the starter in Big D. "It's hard to say. Felix is our guy and I don't know what my role will be when he returns," Murray told 105.3 the Fan in Dallas. "Hopefully he returns very soon. Whether it's starter, second, or third string, I'm gonna do it with a smile on my face and try to contribute as much as I can."

Where Murray goes from here will be interesting to watch.

Will he go the way of Jerome Harrison? In 2009, Harrison shocked the NFL with a 286-yard rushing performance with the Browns, only to be relegated to a back-up role in the following seasons. Or will he follow in the footsteps of fellow OU stand out Adrian Peterson? As a rookie, Peterson set the NFL record for rushing yards in a single game with 296 and has gone on to have a distinguished NFL career.

Either way, Murray has emerged as yet another weapon in the Cowboys' deep arsenal. Even with a 3-3 record, Dallas remains a team

Dina Manzo: My Rift With Caroline Isn't Teresa's Fault

Caroline Manzo may argue that she's not speaking to her sister because of Real Housewives of New Jersey foe Teresa Giudice, but Dina Manzo says Giudice played no part in their rift.

"[Dina] was led to believe a lot of things that are not true. She has a good friend that likes to talk and she says things to her that aren't true against me and Jacqueline [Laurita]," Caroline argued on Sunday's Housewives reunion, looking right at Giudice. "[Dina] claims I never supported her, and Teresa's a big part of it. When you get into this world, the fame, your mind isn't right. You drink the Kool-Aid."

VIDEO: Watch Caroline open up about her feud with Dina

For her part, Dina -- who quit Housewives midway through season 2 and now hosts her own HGTV series, Dina's Party -- said her friendship with Giudice isn't exactly as deep as her sister may think.

"It wasn't until very recently that Teresa showed up at my doorstep in tears," Dina wrote on her personal blog. "Apparently Caroline and Jacqueline had a sit down with her on camera [for season 4] and she felt attacked. All I did was console a friend who was obviously shaken. I felt bad for her…even though I had distanced myself from her a bit I was still her friend and she needed me."

PHOTOS: Hollywood's ugliest family feuds

Dina wrote that while she continued to interact with Giudice -- mostly to support her business ventures -- she did so out of the spotlight and away from Housewives cameras.

"Teresa had nothing to do with me staying away from everyone, I even stayed away from her too and I have no clue about all the drama that went on with everything else," Dina blogged. "I feel bad that my relationship with my sister and her family is strained, but I can assure you that one day it will be back to the way it was."

VIDEO: Teresa lashes out at her brother

"I don't like fighting, I don't like drama, I don't like confrontation, I don't agree with ganging up on someone [one of the other reasons why I left season 2] and I don't need to share anymore than that," Dina summed up.

"I wish all the girls the BEST!! ALL OF THEM….Let's lift each other up instead of trying to tear one another down. Let's showcase what women are capable of, what I thought this show was going to be back in the day: Running successful businesses, supporting amazing causes, raising incredible children and looking fabulous every step of the way," wrote Dina, before adding in jest: "Unfortunately, not sure what the ratings on that would be."

Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time' Fall's Top-Rated Drama Premiere; Fox Wins Night

ABC's new fairytale drama "Once Upon a Time" got off to a strong start Sunday night, scoring the top ratings of any drama debut this fall, while Fox won the night overall thanks to the NFL and the World Series, according to preliminary numbers.

Competing against both the World Series and "Sunday Night Football," "Once Upon a Time" on ABC at 8 p.m. posted a 3.9 rating/10 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, with 12.8 million total viewers. "Desperate Housewives" the following hour climbed 11 percent, scoring a 3.0/7 in the demo with 9.2 million total viewers. "Pan Am" at 10 remained flat and tied with last week's series low, getting a 1.8/5 in the demo and 5.7 million total viewers. (The network started the night with "America's Funniest Home Videos" at 7, which drew a 1.5/4 in the demo and 6.6 million total viewers.)

While final numbers for Game 4 of the World Series are still inconclusive, Fox took an overall win for the night, along with the evening's top rating slot with overrun from the NFL at 7, which drew a 7.4/21 in the demo and 21.8 million total viewers. Combined with "The OT" at 7:30, which received a 4.3/12 in the demo and 13.4 million total viewers, and Game 4 of the World Series from 8 to 11, which registered a 4.0/10 in the demo and 13.6 million total viewers in preliminary numbers, Fox averaged a 4.4/11 in the demo and 14.6 million total viewers.

NBC's "Sunday Night Football" from 8:30 to 11 slipped 19 percent in the demo from last week to a 4.6/11 and 11.2 million total viewers. (Those numbers are preliminary, however, and are likely to change significantly due to the nature of live sports.) The game was preceded by "Football Night in America" at 7, which drew a 1.5/4 in the demo and 4.2 million total viewers, followed by another episode at 7:30, which received a 2.5/7 in the demo and 6.3 million total viewers, and a final episode at 8, which received a 3.7/9 in the demo and 9.7 million total viewers.

Meanwhile, CBS started its night with a huge boost for "60 Minutes" at 7, which surged 47 percent from last week to a 2.7 in the demo and 12.6 million total viewers, thanks to an interview with Walter Isaacson, the biographer of recently deceased Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. That was the end of the good news for the network, however. "The Amazing Race" ran flat with last week, taking a 2.7/7 in the demo 9.9 million total viewers, while "The Good Wife" dipped 5 percent for a 2.0/5 in the demo and 9.6 million total viewers. "CSI: Miami" ended the night at 10, dropping 13 percent for a 2.1/5 and 9.7 million total viewers.

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