Open source gets bought by one of the big players! Sun Acquires MySQL [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]26 February 2008[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Today is a big day for Sun and the MySQL community. We have closed our acquisition of MySQL AB and proudly joined forces with this open source icon and the company behind the world's most popular open source database. Sun already is the leading provider of platforms for the Web economy and the largest commercial open source contributor. As of today, Sun also is a formidable player in the $15 billion database market. We thank you — our joint customers, developers and community members — for making this possible. Already, MySQL, downloaded 60,000 times a day (or once every two seconds), is by far the most popular platform on which modern developers are creating network services. Enterprises and developers alike want fast, scalable and open solutions backed by world-class communities and support — from web-based companies like Facebook and Google to finance and telecommunications companies, to high schools and college campuses, to startups, high performance computing labs and IT managers in the Global 2000 who take a more hands-on approach. The rapid adoption of MySQL is breathtaking. But there remain unlimited possibilities, particularly with more traditional CIOs who disallow the usage of products that aren't backed by commercial support relationships or who are simply more comfortable relying on vendors like Sun to manage global, critical infrastructure. Together, Sun and MySQL have an opportunity to achieve Unlimited Scale. Providing global enterprise-class support 24x7x365, Sun can grow the MySQL customer base and community even further. If you've been watching Sun over the last number of years, you'll know Sun is already committed to the business model at the heart of MySQL's success - first investing to grow communities of users and developers, and only then creating commercial services that attract (rather than lock in) paying customers. Our enterprise customers worldwide can now take advantage of MySQL's market-leading open source database on your choice of platform, OS and language with less risk — for up to a 90% lower total cost of ownership over many traditional database solutions. MySQL users, as with Sun's, already run MySQL across every major operating system — Linux, Windows, Solaris and the Mac — and every major system platform, from IBM, Intel, AMD, Dell, Sun and HP. Even more so today, Sun provides the most complete suite of support options to rapidly build and deploy fast, efficient, effective and secure Web-based applications and services. For our worldwide developers, Sun working with the MySQL community will more quickly take the MySQL database to the next level of scalability and performance by tapping into Sun's $14 billion in expertise, technologies and global support. Bottom line, Sun is putting a billion dollars behind the "M" in LAMP, increasing our already-strong commitment to open source communities, to deliver a more powerful Web application development platform. And we assure you, MySQL will remain just as open, fast, free, easy-to-use and innovative as you've always seen. And much more. Additionally, this arrangement does not change Sun's long-standing relationship with Oracle and Sybase in the marketplace. Just as Sun supports customer choice of platform through AMD, Intel and SPARC, customers will have a choice of database systems for use with Sun's platform offerings. Over the next months, Sun and MySQL will strive to reach full integration globally. Due to relevant country legal requirements, different timelines for completing that full integration may apply. Nonetheless, Sun will work to meet your needs as a valued customer, whatever they may be. Thank you for relying on Sun and MySQL for years as trusted business partners. We look forward to continuing to help you achieve and exceed your business goals for decades to come. Jonathan Schwartz President and Chief Executive Officer Sun Microsystems [/FONT]
Thanks for reminding yet again.......let's hope there will be a quick fork if they start messing it up.
