A strategic move: Sun moves into database market with purchase of open-source player MySQL
-- Manufacturing Business Technology, 1/16/2008 12:16:00 PM
Sun Microsystems has agreed to acquire MySQL AB, an open-source icon and developer of one of the world's fastest-growing open-source databases, for approximately $1 billion. The acquisition accelerates Sun's position in enterprise IT to now include the $15-billion database market.Sun hopes MySQL—with high-profile users such as Facebook, Google, and China Mobile—will bring synergies to Sun that will change the landscape of the software industry by driving new adoption of MySQL's open-source database in more traditional applications and enterprises. The expectation is that integration with Sun will greatly extend the commercial appeal of MySQL's offerings and improve its value proposition with the addition of Sun's global services organization. MySQL also will gain new distribution through Sun's channels, including its OEM relationships with Intel, IBM, and Dell.
"Today's acquisition reaffirms Sun's position at the center of the global Web economy. Supporting our overall growth plan, acquiring MySQL amplifies our investments in the technologies demanded by those driving extreme growth and efficiency, from Internet media titans to the world's largest traditional enterprises," said Jonathan Schwartz, CEO and president, Sun Microsystems. "MySQL's employees and culture, along with its near ubiquity across the Web, make it an ideal fit with Sun's open approach to network innovation. And most important, this announcement boosts our investments into the communities at the heart of innovation on the Internet, and of enterprises that rely on technology as a competitive weapon."
MySQL's open-source database is widely deployed across all major operating systems, hardware vendors, geographies, industries, and application types. MySQL CEO Marten Mickos says the two companies’ complementary product line-ups will extend MySQL's database reach, and are expected to bring new markets for Sun's systems, virtualization, middleware, and storage platforms.
"The combination of MySQL and Sun represents an enormous opportunity for users and organizations of all sizes seeking innovation, growth, and choice," Mickos says. "Sun's culture and business model complements MySQL's own by sharing the same ideals that we have had since our foundation—software freedom, online innovation, and community and partner participation. We are tremendously excited to work with Sun and the millions of members of the MySQL open-source ecosystem to continue to deliver the best database for powering the modern Web economy."
MySQL's open-source database is the "M" in LAMP—the software platform comprised of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP/Perl often viewed as the foundation of the Internet.
Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun's Software, Sales, and Service organizations. The company's CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun's senior executive leadership team.
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