MySQL to get acquired by Sun
Written on January 16, 2008 – 3:48 pm
Robert Gaal, co-founder of Wakoopa
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This just hit the presses: Sun will acquire MySQL for $1 billion. If you’re not familiar with MySQL: it’s the open-source database system that fuels a lot of sites, including Facebook, Google, and this one. From the press release:
SANTA CLARA, CA January 16, 2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement 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 in total consideration. The acquisition accelerates Sun’s position in enterprise IT to now include the $15 billion database market. Today’s announcement reaffirms Sun’s position as the leading provider of platforms for the Web economy and its role as the largest commercial open source contributor.
Will this change MySQL as we know it? Mårten Mickos, MySQL CEO, says the culture of the company (mainly open-source minded) will stay the same:
Marten Mickos with The Next Web founders“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.”
Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz also elaborates on his blog.
We’ve had the pleasure of having dinner with Mårten in Amsterdam a few months back. We’ll try and contact him ASAP for a short interview regarding this news. Congratulations Mårten!
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8 Responses to “MySQL to get acquired by Sun”
By Menno van der Sman on Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
Who hasn’t heard of MySQL :)
I hope this will speed up the development of MySQL. I’m still waiting for the production release of MySQL 5.1
By Bram Kok on Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
Smart move from Sun and nice scoop!
By David Petherick on Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
Clever, clever Sun.
But they really should pay a photographer who can afford to use flash photography for such announcements - looks like the Sun was definitely not shining when that photo was taken! ;-)
By David Petherick on Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
Hey! Did you change the photo for this story here guys, or do you have a rotating set of images?
Oddly, it looks like the camera flash was not working for this photo of the ‘Fleck suits’ either!
By Wouter on Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
@David: The only thing shining in that photo is Patrick’s head ;)
Smart acquisition by Sun and a great example that open source can pay off!
By Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten on Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
Yeah we changed the picture David. We couldn’t resist.
About the news: pretty unexpected! I thought (rumors?) they were going to do an IPO. Maybe Sun wanted to get them before they went public.
By Patrick de Laive on Jan 16, 2008 | Reply
Great scoop, Felicidades to Marten and his team. I think Sun got worried when they heard the rumors of a possible IPO and started the negotiations. At once I’m doubting if they we’re really planning an IPO, it might have been a strategy to get acquired…