The location features in Oracle Database 10g provide a platform that supports a wide range of applications—from automated mapping/facilities management and geographic information systems (GIS), to wireless location services and location-enabled e-business. The Oracle Database 10g, Oracle Application Server 10g, and Oracle E-Business Suite include and make use of location features to deliver unique business advantages to users.

Through Oracle Spatial and Oracle Locator, geographic and location data are managed in a native type within Oracle Database 10g. Oracle Locator is a feature of Oracle Database 10g Standard and Enterprise Editions that provides core location functionality needed by most customer applications to support a variety of location-based services (LBS) and 3rd party GIS solutions. Oracle Spatial is an option for Oracle Enterprise Edition that provides advanced spatial features to support high-end GIS and LBS solutions. Oracle MapViewer is an Oracle Application Server Java component and JDeveloper extension used for map rendering and viewing geospatial data managed by Oracle Spatial or Locator.

Oracle Spatial and Oracle Locator have been adopted as the preferred location platform by leading GIS and LBS vendors. Oracle Spatial and Oracle Locator have also been deployed by telecommunications, utilities, and government organizations worldwide.