This is interesting because I just read this article
(http://www.sdtimes.com/cols/middlewatch.htm) that talks about how
postgresql is at a disadvantage compared to other open source databases
because it is produced under a BSD license, and won't have enough
license revenue to sustain long term viability of postgresql inc, the
main company behind postgresql.
Robert Treat
On Tue, 2002-11-12 at 18:14, Shane McChesney wrote:
> ..among other things.
>
> Hey, all... earlier today I posted a (long) article to my weblog
> about the prospects for proprietary content management firms, and
> about Oracle's rapidly declining database license revenue in the face
> of "current conditions" and competition from the likes of PostgreSQL.
>
> I thought it might be useful to note it here...
>
> http://www.skippingdot.net/2002/11/12
>
> If you ever wonder why more people don't seem to "Get It" about open
> source software, well, it may be that more people get it than even we
> hear about, because they sure aren't buying Oracle like they used to.
>
> Of course, there are a lot of factors at play here, but there's no
> doubt in my mind that PostgreSQL is on the list of contributors to
> this trend.
>
> For those who don't have time to read the whole thing, here's a
> tidbit:
>
> -===-
>
> First, [Oracle's] license revenue overall has dropped at Internet
> speed:
>
> - FY 2002 software license revenue was down 25% from FY 2001.
> - First-quarter FY 2003 license revenue is down another 23% from the
> same quarter in FY 2002.
>
> That compound attrition is unprecedented, and there is no reason to
> believe that it won't continue. There is no economic reason for it to
> turn around.
>
> Second, licenses for Oracle's core database products contribute
> ever-smaller proportions of the company's revenues.
>
> - Database licenses slid from 41% of revenue in FY 1997 to 28% in FY
> 2002, and
> - in Q1 2003, database license revenue was only 21.6% of overall
> revenue.
>
> Oracle has a huge and well-established consulting business, which is
> a good thing, because they're going to wind up pretty much entirely a
> services organization, whether they like it or not.
>
> -===-
>
> Feel free to use the info in that article wherever and whenever you
> like.
>
> I'll be watching this trend quarterly from now on, of course.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Shane McChesney
> President,
> Wesearch Information Services Inc.
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 6: Have you searched our list archives?
>
> http://archives.postgresql.org
