In proof that Open Source really is the wave of the future, Sun Microsystems bought Open Source company MySql for $1 Billion USD, and Oracle purchased BEA, another independent, for $8.5 Billion USD. That means the industry is getting smaller and smaller.

The purchase of MySql by Sun Microsystems is part of their overall strategy to add as many Open Source applications to their stable as possible. MySql is a heavy hitter in the Open Source industry (it is the “m” in the L.A.M.P. Open Source middleware dynasty of Linux, Apache, MySql, PHP/Perl). Sun has already acquired Open Office, Open Solaris, GlassFish, NetBeans and Open Java. MySql will be a nice complement to the arsenal they are building in the new Open Source based economy.

Oracle also added to their middleware arsenal with its purchase of BEA. BEA was the last “independent” software company hold out in the Silicon Valley. I’d say that price tag was well worth the wait for BEA. Of course this means that the industry is now completely dominated by giants, at least until the next upstart start-up comes along to challenge the status quo. The BEA infrastructure will be absorbed into the Oracle Fusion line, assuming the sale is approved by BEA stockholders and government regulators.

MySql is perhaps the most interesting of the two acquisitions. It brings a heavy hitting customer base to the table that includes Google, FaceBook, Nokia and just about anyone who has a WordPress blog or server these days. After so many years of being an independent Open Source application it will be interesting to see if Sun leaves a working business model well enough alone or feels the need to tweak it to make it more in keeping with the Sun philosophy.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 at 12:19 pm under Uncategorized.

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