Sun Microsystems purchases MySQL

Filed under: Business, Developer, Internet, Utilities, Open Source

Sun Microsystems purchases MySQL

by Jason Harris Jan 16th 2008

Sun Microsystems has made a huge leap into the open-source market by purchasing MySQL AB, the company behind the wildly popular MySQL database, for $1 Billion in stocks and cash. In a humorously named blog post titled "Helping Dolphins Fly", Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Shwartz stated that Sun would not only support MySQL once the transaction is finalized, but they'll be throwing their engineering support behind making MySQL more efficient on Sun's software platform.

MySQL is a widely used database product. It is the database used behind many popular sites -- Facebook, Digg, and Google, among others. Sun has long been a proponent of open source software, up until this point Sun has promoted PostgreSQL as a favored database.

MySQL AB was about to seek an IPO offering. We think Sun got a good deal by giving MySQL AB a cool billion, but just hope the MySQL database continues to innovate and carry on it's reputation as a fantastic database platform.

Perhaps with the influx of $800 Million, MySQL can make the leap from your favorite website into the enterprise where the real money is. Some large corporations wouldn't touch a database product that doesn't have support behind it, but if MySQL has a good system in place -- and a sales team who've marketed inside the enterprise for years -- new customers are more likely to take the bait and ditch Oracle or Microsoft's SQL Server.

Tags: database, mysql, open source, OpenSource, sun

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Todd said 1:37PM on 1-16-2008

MySQL has always had support, its not free, but has been there - what Sun brings is indemnification. Putting MySQL at the same level of "Accounting Department approved" SQL Server 2007 Ultra Premium Ultra Vista Edition with Plus Pack, or whatever they call it now.

Marshall said 2:02PM on 1-16-2008

If they can make the MySQL name more recognizable/commonplace, that would be great. Anyone in IT knows it, but when pitching a project, I really hate having to answer the inevitable "how is MySQL different from MS SQL Server 200X?" Good/understandable/non-tech answers are not always easy to come by. If people had already heard of it, maybe they wouldn't feel the need to ask.

Todd said 2:32PM on 1-16-2008

"How is MySQL different from MS SQL Server 200X?"

MySQL Enterprise, with global support and indemnity from Sun Microsystems = $599 a year

SQL Server Enterprise, with global support and indemnity from Microsoft = $3500 a year

smilbandit said 2:38PM on 1-16-2008

I don't think that mysql is going to get an influx of 800 million, that is for the private stockholders. The extra 200 million is for option for the employees they don't want to leave because their private stock is worth something. So i think the net effect will be the opposite of an influx.

Jason said 11:47AM on 1-29-2008

It opens up another revenue stream for Sun through government sales. Oracle is the category killer in database infrastructure. Sun can make multiple arguments for why MySQL is another choice for government users.

http://www.opensourceconnections.com/2008/01/29/what-does-suns-mysql-acquisition-mean-for-government-it-usage/

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