MySQL CEO MARTEN MARTEN MARTEN MARKOS is not surprised by the recent open source company. When he accepts Silicon.com's interview, he also said "I just strange: Why can't this happen again. "Although MICKOS will be in the best software development model, it is necessary to accept this point of view, but it is still necessary.
But if you see Mysql sales performance, many companies will accept this view. In the 2002-2003 fiscal year, Mysql sales have doubled, and in 2004, this number is expected to double, which will reach 18 million to 20 million US dollars.
MySQL's headquarters is located in Sweden, with the rapid development of the company, now has more than 160 employees, one-third of the rest of the United States, and the rest of the world are distributed around the world.
MICKOS believes that the reason why MySQL databases will have this success (more than 5 million sets in a global scale, 35,000 sets per day), partly because of the nature of open source products, and traditional patented products Compared to the publication of a public product, developers will have a bigger satisfaction.
Open source products are equally advantageous when considering security. "Users can help from the technical master, and I believe that the masters that are familiar with the open source products are much more than destroyers."
While MySQL's products are free in GNU General Public Authorization, it is still commercial products. "We greed as other software vendors." Mickos said. For companies that wish to have a complete service, I hope to use MySQL companies in their own products and support, you need to purchase mysql licenses.
As for whether a license is selected, in Mickos, it is "left to the world to decide", depending on how they want to use software.
Another key factor in mysql success, that is, the company's CIOs have selected critical applications in open source products. It is open, and all newly joined code will be checked in advance.
In the 1980s, the company's founder Swedes David Axmark, Allan Larsson, Michael 'Monty' Widenius, etc. started MYSQL development. At that time, Mickos gave up this project and as their friends, once advised them to give up this project and thought this was wasting time. And in 1997, Mickos regretted. He said in Monty's email "Hey, you are really successful." By 2001, MICKOS full of confidence in MySQL has also become the company's CEO.
However, Mickos's advice to friends is not unreasonable. Because Oracle, IBM, and Microsoft these three major manufacturers have occupied 80% of the entire database market, I want to divide a cup, it is really not easy.
But Mickos did not feel worried about this. In contrast, when he mentioned the opponent Oracle Company, he said "They really should not ignore our power."
At the same time, he explained that Mysql and Oracle's competition from a more fair point is not straightforward. "We are not snapped up from Oracle's mouth, just a meat that Oracle didn't eat." Oracle's core features of the database have not appeared in its open source version, but MySQL focuses on frequently used code features.
Mickos likes to compare MySQL than furniture manufacturers IKEA. Both have reliable, economical products, and also have effective sales channels. Oracles and IBM are more like classical furniture manufacturers. "And IKEA will not worry about classical furniture manufacturers." Mickos said. MICKOS said Mysql is very suitable for website use, and in reality is also the most database product, including Yahoo! And Google and other big websites, use MySQL. In addition, MySQL is also ideal for embedded environments, retail, manufacturing, government departments, and internal tasks, etc., are ideal for use Mysql. From the customer's scope, from communication areas (such as Vodafone, Ericsson) to the IT field (HP, Texas Instruments) to Media (Associated Press, Times Magazine), are using MySQL database products.
Mickos also said that many businesses in the UK face the Open source products like MySQL, but Dresden Kleinwort Wassertein, DRKW and LloyDSTSB banks have begun to use mysql.
MySQL's development in Europe is the most beginning to England, followed by Germany, then go to Nordic countries. This also makes the company more determined in the EU against software patented positions, and it has also joined NosoftwarePatents.com.
Talking about software patent issues, Mickos believes that "software patents are very disadvantageous, they are expensive, and they have a lot of negative effects. Its biggest beneficiaries are lawyers." The negative impact he said, including reducing the competition of the company, and Many small businesses are finally driven out of the market in order to cope with infringement lawsuit.
Although it is very important to protect your intellectual property, software patents are not a good way, because it is difficult to describe the patent content applied, and it is also very difficult to verify a software infringement. Mickos says "Software should be considered as literature or art works." Application software patents seem to be the same as the patents applying for music works.
Looking at the future, Mickos said that "all databases will be open source", but he does not have the future of this dual license mode in the future, may be more concerned about the complete product and supported products.
Mickos also also said that open source is not suitable for all software projects, such as some companies need to keep their software algorithms to maintain competitive advantage.
In 2001, the company received a risk investment, but Mickos believed that although the way public offerings may be prepared for the company to open the passage, the company cannot think of all things. He said, "We hope to change the market, build a long-term, successful business model."
