40%. Additionally, new software license revenues increased in all geographic regions. Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, the Americas contributed 57%, EMEA contributed 23% and Asia Pacific contributed 20% to the increase in new software license revenues. New software license revenues in the Americas, specifically in the United States, increased at a faster rate than in other regions primarily due to the relative geographical mix of revenues and location of sales personnel from our acquired companies.

 

Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, database and middleware revenues grew 11% driven by increased demand for database option products, and gain in market share in the application server market as a result of better sales execution and more competitive features and functionality. Siebel products contributed $34 million to the growth in database and middleware revenues.

 

Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, applications revenues increased 67% as a result of increased demand for our applications products, including products from acquired companies, better sales execution as a result of segmenting our sales force by product and a strengthening of our competitive position in the applications market, particularly in the United States and EMEA. PeopleSoft products contributed $220 million to the growth in applications revenue in fiscal 2006, Siebel products contributed $103 million and Retek products contributed $41 million.

 

New software license revenues earned from transactions over $0.5 million increased from 40% of new software license revenues in fiscal 2005 to 45% in fiscal 2006.

 

Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, sales and marketing expenses increased due to higher commission expenses resulting from the growth in new software license revenues, higher personnel related expenditures primarily associated with our expanded sales force from acquired companies and higher advertising expenses. The total new software license margin as a percentage of revenues decreased primarily due to incremental amortization of intangible assets and higher compensation expenses.

 

Software License Updates and Product Support:   Software license updates grant customers rights to unspecified software product upgrades and maintenance releases issued during the support period. Product support includes internet access to technical content as well as internet and telephone access to technical support personnel in our global support centers. Expenses associated with our software license updates and product support line of business include the cost of providing the support services, largely personnel related expenses, and the amortization of our intangible assets associated with software support and customer relationships obtained from our acquisitions.

Fiscal 2007 Compared to Fiscal 2006:   Excluding the effect of currency rate fluctuations, software license updates and product support revenues increased as a result of the addition of software license updates and product support revenues associated with new software license revenues recognized during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 and over