<p>Yes, times have changed. As a follow-up to the cloud-computing partnership announced earlier this year between longtime rivals Microsoft and Oracle, the Redmond company is getting its first-ever keynote slot at the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco this afternoon.</p><p>It's the latest step in a partnership that was some two years in the making, requiring the two companies to move beyond what has historically been a complicated and contentious relationship.</p><p>The talk will be delivered by Microsoft executive Brad Anderson.</p><p>On his blog earlier today, Anderson announced that Microsoft and Oracle have been taking steps to implement the partnership launching a preview of Windows Server virtual machines running Oracle Database, WebLogic Server and the Java Development Kit this week. In addition, Windows Azure customers can get Oracle Linux virtual machines running Oracle Database and WebLogic Server.</p><p><a href="http://www.geekwire.com/2013/microsoft-deliver-firstever-oracle-openworld-keynote/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/09/24/microsoft_oracle_cloud/">Microsoft comes through on Oracle cloud partnership</a> (Register)</p><p><a href="http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/oracle-expands-oracle-cloud-with-new-database-as-service-java-as-service-infrastructure-nyse-orcl-1834377.htm">Oracle Expands Oracle Cloud With New Database as a Service, Java as a ...</a> (Marketwired (press release))</p><p><a href="http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/oracle-takes-the-fight-amazon-salesforcecom-new-cloud-services-227452">Oracle takes the fight to Amazon, Salesforce.com with new cloud services</a> (InfoWorld)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dnB39ioiZ_HMV_Mqrpg0lH1l_sM5M&ned=us">47 additional articles.</a></p>