sun microsystems

Oracle, one of the world's biggest software companies, on Thursday posted fiscal second-quarter earnings that grew 28% year over year. It's the latest sign that companies are spending more on technology.

Oracle has slapped Micron Technology, Samsung, Hynix, Infineon and other chip-makers with a price-fixing lawsuit, a follow-up to the $173 million antitrust settlement that those companies and others reached with state attorneys generals regarding similar allegations several months back.

Net income for the quarter ended Aug. 31 was $1.35 billion, or 27 cents a share, up from $1.12 billion, or 22 cents, a year earlier, Oracle said in a statement today. Revenue surged 48% to $7.5 billion.

Wells Fargo analyst Jason Maynard expects Oracle shares to keep growing in the next 12 months as the result of its acquisition of Sun Microsystems earlier this year. The company is scheduled to report its earnings Thursday.

Cisco Systems and Westcon Group North America agreed to pay $48 million to settle charges they paid kickbacks and referral fees to win government business, and then recouped those costs and more by overcharging the government for their services.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) is suing its former chief executive, Mark Hurd, after news that he will be taking the post of co-president at competitor Oracle (ORCL). HP alleges that Hurd could end up violating confidentiality agreements by accepting the position.

Since the recession began, more than 8 million Americans have lost their jobs. But perhaps even more surprising is the small number of companies that are responsible for laying off such a large percentage of today's unemployed workers.

Oracle alleges that Google's Android mobile operating system infringes patents associated with Oracle's Java programming platform. Java is used to write software for devices ranging from smartphones to high-end computer servers.

Hewlett-Packard shares rose in after-hours trading after the company agreed to settle a lawsuit from the Justice Department, which claimed the company paid kickbacks to get recommendations for government work. The settlement will cost 2 cents per share.

Larry Ellison's webcast announcing the completion of the Sun acquisition got overwhelmed by iPad-mania the same day. So much so, that it appeared as if Oracle had made a rare publicity blunder. But maybe not.