Oracle

Oracle is the world's second largest software maker and the No. 1 in enterprise software.

While it is best-known for its flagship product Oracle database, the U.S.-based software giant also makes database development tools as well as middle-tier, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM) software.

Oracle made its first foray into the hardware market in September, launching a storage server with embedded software designed to work with the company's databases.

Recently, Oracle teamed up with chipmaker Intel to speed up cloud computing for enterprises, as well as continue their efforts to improve the performance of Oracle's software on Intel chips.

Founded in 1977 by current CEO Larry Ellison, Oracle is headquartered in Redwood City, California, the company now serves customers in more than 145 countries.