Let the Sun Shine in (on MySQL)
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Holy acquisitions, Sun is buying the open-source database software. Too bad SQL Server 2008 is shipping late. |
Sun's intended $1 billion acquisition of MySQL is churning up lots of excitement about open source's future. For example, Mike Arrington of TechCrunch blogged: "Sun Picks Up MySQL For $1 Billion; Open Source Is A Legitimate Business Model." Huh? Open source wasn't a legitimate business model before?
Arrington isn't the only blogger giddy about the acquisition. There is great rejoicing among open-source supporters, but perhaps misplaced. Sun is going to benefit more than MySQL or the so-called open-source cause, methinks.
"We're putting a billion dollars behind the M in LAMP," Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz wrote in blog post "Helping Dolphins Fly," this morning. LAMP refers to Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP, four popular open-source Web infrastructure technologies.
"The adoption of MySQL across the globe is nothing short of breathtaking," Schwartz wrote. "They are the root stock from which an enormous portion of the Web economy springs."
Sun's basic goal is simple: To provide a more integrated enterprise server stack. While at first glance, such a move seems good for open-source developers, much depends upon Sun's commercial objectives. Schwartz and company could turn off the LAMP in favor of Sun light.
Schwartz makes bold claims:
"No platform vendor has assembled all the core elements of a completely open-source operating system for the Internet. No company has been able to deliver a comprehensive alternative to the leading proprietary OS. With this acquisition, we will have done just that—positioned Sun at the center of the Web, as the definitive provider of high performance platforms for the Web economy."
To achieve those objectives, Sun almost certainly will push MySQL into its own Web server stack, which includes hardware as well as software. Long term, a Sun Web server stack would more likely disrupt LAMP, as it has been traditionally deployed. Those cheering the acquisition's benefits to open source should consider Sun's track record—so-so, for OpenOffice; better for OpenSolaris—in the context of broader business objectives.
Still, Sun plans to put some serious support services behind MySQL, which would open an important check box for some IT organization evaluations. Sun will offer something for LAMP, then, but how much more is uncertain. Companies don't spend a billion bucks just to give away software for free. Sun's main MySQL objectives are commercial. Schwartz identified non-commercial objectives for academia, but a close reading of his blog post makes no big promises, other than support, to open source.
Competitively, the acquisition is reason for Microsoft to worry and rejoice. Sun is making a bold enterprise server play that could further open-source penetration along the desktop-to-server stack. At the least, Sun could better enable LAMP to hold back 2008 versions of SQL Server, Visual Studio and Windows Server—and Internet Information Server 7, which is part of Windows Server 2008. While the products launch next month, SQL Server 2008 is delayed.
From that perspective, Sun is making a timely acquisition. Microsoft-Sun Web server software competition is heating up to a level not seen between the pair for almost a decade. Solaris is resurgent in the enterprise. If not LAMP, maybe SAMP (Solaris, Apache, MySQL and PHP) will face off against IIS 7, SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008.
Sun's acquisition comes just a few months after the two companies engaged in new licensing agreements and Microsoft accepted European Union antitrust enforcement and started licensing server protocols.
Sun could easily use server protocol information to ensure SAMP, or LAMP, interoperability with Microsoft software, while building up its own competing integrated Web server stack.
But there are uncertainties that potentially would benefit Microsoft. While SQL Server 2008 may be delayed, it's a product fairly far along in development. Meanwhile, Sun will go through a transition period during the acquisition that would negate any real advantage to SQL Server 2008's delayed launch.
Additionally, Windows Server 2008's role-based architecture will ease deployment for specific tasks, such as setting up a Web server. SQL Server 2008 fairly easily plugs into the architecture. But to get, in Microsoft parlance, that "goodness," OEMs and the channel would have to provide hardware and installation and management services. Sun can provide a more complete hardware and software stack, with some direct services and more from its channel.
Should Sun disrupt LAMP, rather than assist it, Microsoft could increase its gains against Apache. According to NetCraft, Apache's share of the 155,230,051 active sites was 47.2 percent compared to 36.99 percent for Microsoft technologies (e.g., Windows Server and IIS) in December.
No matter what happens, Sun's acquisition is sure to liven up competition in the Web server market.
Comments (17)
We know that IBM retired their Enabler Agent software soon after
VCSY had theirs spotlighted on the IBM website for Innovations
in about 2001.
Now here Portuno shows up IBM referencing the SiteFlash patent
by McAuley in a patent belonging to IBM. Read this:
http://vcsy.blogspot.com/2007/09/ibm-patent-7058671-refencing-vcsy.html
Posted by I-Man | January 16, 2008 8:28 PM
This PR from VCSY has not been deleted telling about Vertical being named as a Top Innovator on the IBM web site in 2001.
----------------------------------------------
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12 2001 9:00 AM EST
Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. featured on new IBM web site as an innovation leader
LOS ANGELES, CA, February 14, 2001 ? Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:VCSY) today announced that it has been selected by IBM to be one of 40 companies now featured as innovation leaders on IBM?s new showcase Web site at: www.IBM.com/framework/innovations
IBM?s Web site provides background information and streaming video describing VCSY?s Home Country Gateways (HCGs), particularly focusing on theIndiaBridge.com, which is powered by Emily?, VCSY?s powerful new proprietary XML-based technology.
?IBM has clearly been the leader in promoting XML as the new global open standard. We are particularly proud to be highlighted on this Web site alongside such companies as Ameritech, Primerica, and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young,? stated Richard Wade, President of Vertical Computer Systems, Inc.
theIndiaBridge.com is a joint venture between VCSY and Vijay Amritraj, President of First Serve Entertainment Inc. (FSE) and ?India?s Ambassador of Sports.? At present, in addition to theIndiaBridge.com, VCSY has four additional HCGs in operation: www.theWorldBridge.com, www.theUSBridge.com, www.theBrazilBridge.com, www.theChinaBridge.com, and is working to establish other HCG partnerships.
Posted by I-Man | January 16, 2008 9:29 PM
Click the link and follow this thread, you'll learn.
If VCSY+MSFT Settle
What do you think will happen to microsoft stock in the next 2 years and VCSY stock this year.
Interesting points you have.
http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks_M/threadview?m=tm&bn=12004&tid=1331339&mid=1331343&tof=47&rt=1&frt=1&off=1
Posted by I-Man | January 16, 2008 10:42 PM
Joe, please block I-Man. I am sick & tired of his obvious propaganda for the purpose of increasing the value of VCSY stock. This is ridiculous and he should not be allowed to do it in this forum.
Thank you Joe. I will greatly appreciate it.
Posted by Bob Maine | January 16, 2008 10:44 PM
VCSY is all but bankrupt. Nobody wants to to do business with your company. VCSY has been reduced to nothing more than a patent troll. If there was any truth at all to your ridiculous claims, why is VCSY going out of business? And why have you been reduced to a pump-and-dump stock scammer?
Posted by Tom Berber | January 16, 2008 10:46 PM
Funny!
You've been posting here for months and so far there is no evidence of VSY's presence in any significant space, much less dominance.
Try to understand, you opinion is not the same as evidence.
Posted by Tom Berber | January 16, 2008 10:49 PM
My posts are not to pump the price but to inform readers of what has, is and what will take place.
Looks like Tom Berber is on the side that wants the readers to find out afterwards. Tom wants to keep Microsoft shareholders in the dark so he can rape them.
Obviously VCSY's secret development has been as effective as IBM's secret development. Why did IBM describe Viper1 as "licensed technology" without revealing the source of the license.
Posted by I-Man | January 17, 2008 8:28 AM
Tom Berber would only like I-Man to take his VCSY blog post where they belong. These are serious posts about specific subjects and you constantly bring up your VCSY propaganda posts. They do not belong here. If you continue. I will constantly and consistently blog against VCSY along with links to negative stories, articles and posts about VCSY.
Posted by Tom Berber | January 17, 2008 9:20 AM
Many already do and have for the last eight years.
March 7th is when developers, partners and clients are expecting to get to begin using Silverlight 2.0.
March 7th is when the court ordered mediator is to hand in his report in VCSY v MSFT negotiations.
So we wait 50 days until the court gets to read about the failed negotiations between Microsoft and VCSY and the judge gets to see the evidence dug up by VCSY during the discovery phase.
And we wait 50 days to see if Microsoft will dare reveal Silveright 2.0... a move which can put it in position for another lawsuit by VCSY for 7076521 infringement.
It's a real shame you Microsoft shareholders have NO reliable voices on this board or any other board capable of arguing against the VCSY technology points. I would suspect Microsoft has nobody to take up that argument as they've adopted a hide and delay strategy with their web efforts since Niro, Haller, Scavone and Niro announced in June 2006 they would take up VCSY's infringement claims.
What a joke. And you shareholders are blind as can be as we're moving day by day to a point of reckoning in VCSY v MSFT.
Posted by I-Man | January 17, 2008 9:24 AM
Why does every Microsoft Watch post have to be vadnalized by your propaganda? I could enjoy this post much better without having to scroll through your post about the only subject you will post about. People are not stupid. They know you have some vested interest in the stock and you are doing everything you can to try to prop and drop. It is a scam. But it is not fair that you vandalize Joe's post like this.
Joe, if you are reading... Can you stop this?
How about the rest of you readers... Do you want the I-Man to stop? I would really like to know.
Thanks,
Tom
Posted by Tom Berber | January 17, 2008 10:07 AM
I agree with Tom 100%. This is getting rediculous. I would also block any comments that are posted continously from specific persons that are irrelevant to article to which they are posted. I don't care if they are for or against Microsoft. As long as they irrelevant to the article they should be removed.
Posted by Evan | January 17, 2008 12:21 PM
@Evan, Tom, and Bob:
Or, we call can consider the following advice:
"Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake."
In the meantime, I am amused by the image invoked by realizing that VCSY is a worthless patent troll, and I-Man is its pet howler monkey.
Posted by Brian | January 17, 2008 1:03 PM
@Tom
I am sure you already know I agree with you 100%. Some have said to just ignore I-Man. My issue is that very often, I use my phone to read Microsoft Watch, and the scrolling I have to do because of I-Man is ridiculous. It sometimes goes a whole page on my phone. I like to read Microsoft Watch on my break and lunch sometimes and the only way I can do that is on my phone. And it is great when it is on topic.
Posted by Bob Maine | January 17, 2008 1:13 PM
Tom,
Good luck people have been complaining to Joe about I-Man for months.
Guess what he is still around spewing his spam. What I like is the copy and paste. You can find his post on other threads like Yahoo. Word for word. Open notepad copy, find thread paste, paste, paste, spam, spam, spam.
Posted by adsf | January 17, 2008 3:12 PM
Yup it is not that we can't ignor hime Joe it is a technical issue his spaming bring to the site.
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to read something good.
One must scroll and scroll and scroll in order to ignore hime.
Joe why not do us a favor and ignore him for us by blocking the spam. Or I-man out of respect for other could you shorten up your spam. Ohh you have no respect I can see that by people asking you to stop but you continue.
Posted by adsf | January 17, 2008 3:15 PM
Joe, please block I-Man. I am sick & tired of his obvious propaganda for the purpose of increasing the value of VCSY stock. This is ridiculous and he should not be allowed to do it in this forum.
Thank you Joe
Posted by bedava oyunlar | January 20, 2008 7:56 PM
please block I-Man. I am sick & tired of his obvious propaganda for the purpose of increasing the value of VCSY stock. This is ridiculous and he should not be allowed to do it in this forum.
Posted by adult | February 2, 2008 6:20 PM