MySQL boasts might against big players
Source: CNet News
MySQL kicked off its first-ever users conference by releasing the source code of its upcoming MySQL 5.0 product and touting its reputation as the little database company that could.
The Swedish company, which develops open-source database software, is making its way into markets once dominated by proprietary database vendors such as Oracle, IBM, Microsoft and Sybase. During a keynote address Thursday morning, co-founder David Axmark said more than 29,000 people are downloading MySQL each day, and it has more than 4 million users worldwide.
"Compared to when we started we are a very real company," Axmark told some of the conference's 500 attendees here. MySQL, which had just 20 employees as recently as two years ago, has grown to about 65 full- and part-time workers today.
Companies including backup software maker Arkeia and customer relationship management software makers SupportWizard and TechExcel said they are planning to announce support for MySQL database on Friday.
MySQL offers a dual licensing model for its software, meaning people who download the company's database software for free must make any modifications available to the public. Alternatively, people can pay to keep their changes private. The company gets its revenue by selling services, certification courses and paid versions of the product.
