Sun buys MySQL for $1 billion
Sun Microsystems will plunk down $1 billion to buy MySQL, the maker of a popular open-source database. Sun said Wednesday that it will pay about $800 million in cash for MySQL’s privately held stock and will assume about $200 million worth of options. MySQL CEO Marten Mickos will join Sun’s senior executive team after the transaction closes. The acquisition is a bold move for Sun, which has embraced open-source software and development practices in an effort to garner more revenue from its software business. Until now, it has sold support services for a competing open-source database, PostgreSQL. Company executives said they will continue to support PostgreSQL and continue to partner with database giant Oracle.
MySQL, founded in 1995, is one of the most successful open-source companies. It’s part of the popular combination of open-source development products referred to as LAMP, for Linux, Apache Web server, MySQL and the PHP development language, which is broadly used on the Internet and within companies. Mickos had previously said that the company intended to go public rather than be acquired. Its business model is to give away the source code and its database for free and to charge customers an ongoing subscription fee for support and services. Speaking during a conference call, Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said he estimated MySQL’s revenue over the past year was in the $60-$70 million range. Who said you can’t make money with free software? 
Chips!
dont mess it up sun!
Wonder when google will just buy sun :O
lol, i always thought that MySQL is a SUN open source product
ONE BILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!
(Manic laugh)
MySQL is not free software.
If you want to make, lets say a commercial .NET app that connects to the MySQL server your app will not respect the GPS and then you’ll have to pay fees for MySQL.
It’s all in the GPL!
Sorry… typo, GPL not GPS.
And to complete that… the same thing does not apply for PostgresSQL. You can use it for free for any type of app, may it be commercial of not!
@Emm: I guess we have different definitions of “free software”
Good going sun, LAMP Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP
Now go read Wikinomics book folks ! Open source does work
$800 mil in cash !!!!!!!!!!!! talk about a waste of trees
800 Million in cash. Flowing from one bank account to another. No trees harmed.
“”$800 mil in cash !!!!!!!!!!!! talk about a waste of trees :D^”"”
The US money is not made from paper.
Great move.
SAMP - Solaris, Apache, MySQL and PHP
@ZedFS : SAMP already exists !
Great move ? We’ll see !
Any more cash ? What about “Zend” ?
#12 paper is not nessesairly made from tree pulp,to be called paper!!besides the $ looses more value every time i look,
but the amounts involved in these takeovers is still
rediculous.but buying nex week would have saved them millions,lol.
n1 !!
at least quality open source software pays OFF !!!!
wish´em best luck !!
Nukka please……I make $800MM picking my crack
lamp? n00bware
linux? n00bware