Embracing Open Sources

JANUARY 16TH, 2008
By MASTER

MySQL to become part of Sun

These are the news that left me flabbergasted today. Sun announces an agreement to acquire MySQL for $1bn. I had heard rumors of an IPO and about MySQL going to launch a huge announcement some when this year. But this is much better than what I could ever imagine

Sun has an impressive background in open source development. Systems and applications such as OpenOffice, OpenSolaris or NetBeans, together with the Java programming language, have been developed by Sun. It is also one of the largest IT companies in the world and can bring a very strong global support network. But most importantly, with this move Sun is going to boost MySQL’s credibility in the corporate world, and open source’s credibility by extension.

As Sun’s CEO explains in his blog:

“[MySQL is] a part of every web company’s infrastructure, to be sure. And though many of the more traditional companies use MySQL (from auto companies to financial institutions to banks and retailers), many have been waiting for a Fortune 500 vendor willing to step up, to provide mission critical global support.

So what are we announcing today? That in addition to acquiring MySQL, Sun will be unveiling new global support offerings into the MySQL marketplace. We’ll be investing in both the community, and the marketplace – to accelerate the industry’s phase change away from proprietary technology to the new world of open web platforms.”

Sounds pretty good. It seems pretty sure that MySQL’s position is going to be greatly improved with this operation. But what about MySQL’s partners, like ourselves?

“Most importantly, MySQL’s partners are going to be the centerpiece of our solutions and offers – just as we’ve done with Solaris and Java, we’re going to work very hard to make our ISV’s wildly successful as we broaden the market”

Sounds also pretty good. It definitely looks like this is great news for MySQL and everyone in their ecosystem. At this moment it feels somehow a bit strange to think about ourselves as partners of Sun, but I guess we will get used to that when required

Business, MySQL, Open Source Software

5 Comments

By Henrik Ingo, 17 January 2008 @ 2:55 pm

Morning Nacho

What a day yesterday was. My third day working at MySQL and suddenly I’m working for one of the biggest it companies in the world. And I’m very glad it was Sun, Jonathan Schwartz and the others have proven that they “get it”.

I thought it was great to be in the company of Mårten, Monty, David, heck even just any of my collagues are such competent people. But yesterday I was building a bike with Ian Murdock, and when James Gosling came by I just had to shake his and chat a little.

We just had a fun video this morning where my boss’s boss was Shrek and my boss the donkey
By Master, 17 January 2008 @ 4:57 pm

I bet it has been pretty exciting to start working at MySQL and to attend one of their company meetings right after joining. Now, getting the news that you are soon to become a Sunner is probably more than anyone could expect

By the way, is that video available somewhere? It would be great to have a look at it
By Henrik Ingo, 18 January 2008 @ 8:38 pm

I don’t think it is. It might be problematic to post on youtube since it is a collague of real movies.

There is the Swedish drinking song video though, this is the schnaps celebrating the Sun announcement: http://www.theopenforce.com/2008/01/helan-gr-in-orl.html