Thread: Oracle to launch Unbrakable MySQL?
Sounds like Oracle may launch MySQL support. http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2007/01/will_oracle_lau.html "Oracle has suggested it will offer support for the MySQL code, undercutting the company[MySQL AB]" Interesting - but probably not that significant - there are already bigger companies supporting PostgreSQL. (thanks Fujitsu)
Ron Mayer wrote: > Sounds like Oracle may launch MySQL support. > > > http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2007/01/will_oracle_lau.html > "Oracle has suggested it will offer > support for the MySQL code, undercutting > the company[MySQL AB]" > > > Interesting - but probably not that significant - there are > already bigger companies supporting PostgreSQL. (thanks Fujitsu) > I would even pay to see the funny faces of the Oracle staff when examing the bowels of MySQL. If they record this on video they probably can earn more money with publishing the clips than with MySQL support itself. Anastasios
On Jan 29, 2007, at 2:21 PM, Ron Mayer wrote: > Sounds like Oracle may launch MySQL support. > > > http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2007/01/ > will_oracle_lau.html > "Oracle has suggested it will offer > support for the MySQL code, undercutting > the company[MySQL AB]" > > > Interesting - but probably not that significant - there are > already bigger companies supporting PostgreSQL. (thanks Fujitsu) I disagree about the significance... If Oracle starts supporting MySQL, they're essentially putting their name behind that database. While people on this list know that that won't change any of the technical deficiencies in MySQL, there's a lot of business types that won't. Put another way, if you were going to choose between open source databases, which would you rather go with? One that's only supported by (relatively) unknown companies, or one that's supported by the 800 pound gorilla sitting in the corner? Another interesting thought... if Oracle offers support for MySQL, it certainly wouldn't surprise me if they ended up outright *buying* them in a few years. -- Jim Nasby jim@nasby.net EnterpriseDB http://enterprisedb.com 512.569.9461 (cell)
Jim Nasby wrote: > Another interesting thought... if Oracle offers support for MySQL, it > certainly wouldn't surprise me if they ended up outright *buying* them > in a few years. They have attempted this before. However remember that SAP is a big stack holder in MySQL AB's financing. They will do everything in their power to prevent Oracle from buying MySQL AB, as MySQL is their wedge to commoditize the database market (MySQL is getting SAP certified soon), which is their open mission statement ever since they released SAP DB. regards, Lukas
Jim Nasby wrote: > Put another way, if you were going to choose between open source > databases, which would you rather go with? One that's only supported > by (relatively) unknown companies, or one that's supported by the 800 > pound gorilla sitting in the corner? The one that works. -- Peter Eisentraut http://developer.postgresql.org/~petere/
Peter Eisentraut wrote: > Jim Nasby wrote: > >> Put another way, if you were going to choose between open source >> databases, which would you rather go with? One that's only supported >> by (relatively) unknown companies, or one that's supported by the 800 >> pound gorilla sitting in the corner? >> > > The one that works. > With Oracle in my corner, it must work! The public knows not what they do for the majority of the public is ignorant. They will buy what looks best and sexiest. Joshua D. Drake
Jim Nasby wrote: >> already bigger companies supporting PostgreSQL. (thanks Fujitsu) > > I disagree about the significance... If Oracle starts supporting MySQL, > they're essentially putting their name behind that database. While > people on this list know that that won't change any of the technical > deficiencies in MySQL, there's a lot of business types that won't. Oracle already supports a free-as-in-cheap database in it's "Oracle Database Express Edition". I think if a company did want a low-end database they would use that one. > Put another way, if you were going to choose between open source > databases, which would you rather go with? How do people choose Linux distros or Linux vs BSD? The one with the largest company providing support? AFAIK that'd be Debian (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6104891.html). But do people choose them as their Linux vendor? Some do, (like Motorolla) but it's mostly those that already work with them and want to consolidate their vendors. More customers choose the vendor best able to give support (probably Red Hat) even if it's smaller and less well known. I suspect for F/OSS databases the same is likely to be true. Those that already have a large Oracle support contract and like it will go with Oracle for MySQL and Linux support too. > Put another way, if you were going to choose between open source > databases, which would you rather go with? One that's only supported by > (relatively) unknown companies, or one that's supported by the 800 pound > gorilla sitting in the corner? As mentioned, PostgreSQL has gorilla friends too. Fujitsu's in the top 5 IT companies in the world. While Oracle's may be known to more of the general public, I think Red Hat and Fujitsu are known to everyone who makes significant IT buying decisions. > Another interesting thought... if Oracle offers support for MySQL, it > certainly wouldn't surprise me if they ended up outright *buying* them > in a few years. I expect this to happen once Oracle finds the price that Benchmark, IVP and the rest of the big MySQL investors want. If any postgresql support company gets the same kind of customer list MySQL has (Google, Yahoo, LANL, US Census Dept) and does a few press releases to get attention I bet Oracle will try to buy them too. Ellison pretty much said Oracle's interested in buying a wide range of IT companies, even ones that compete with them.
Lukas Kahwe Smith wrote: > Jim Nasby wrote: >> Another interesting thought... if Oracle offers support for MySQL, it >> certainly wouldn't surprise me if they ended up outright *buying* them >> in a few years. MySQL's CEO themselves suggests they're preparing for an IPO which would mean the price Oracle offered would have to be pretty high. [new article where Mickos mentions his IPO ambitions] http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=26F5F8B6-8CC6-4529-8DE7-65732FA84347 > They have attempted this before. However remember that SAP is a big > stack holder in MySQL AB's financing. They will do everything in their > power to prevent Oracle from buying MySQL AB, as MySQL is their wedge to > commoditize the database market (MySQL is getting SAP certified soon), > which is their open mission statement ever since they released SAP DB. I'd be quite surprised if SAP had such power. Seems most of MySQL's money from traditional VCs http://www.mysql.com/company/investors.html and Kevin Harvey the Benchmark Captial guy is the Chairman of their board. He's no doubt comfortable with selling at the right price (he himself apparently had his early success selling the company with "the world's first end-user client/server database for Windows" to Lotus). But no doubt Benchmark would like to see an IPO too (which probably helps their marketing more than selling if the cash/share ends up about the same).