SAN FRANCISCO — Looking to extend their presence in the growing Linux
telecommunications sector, MySQL AB and MontaVista Software have expanded
their relationship.
Under the revised partnership, MySQL validated its open source database
on MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition (CGE) for the telecommunications
and network equipment provider markets. MontaVista Linux said its support
for MySQL also extends to the MySQL Cluster, a version of the MySQL database
that is designed specifically to address the uptime requirements of the
telecommunications industry.
The software is ready to purchase. MontaVista Linux CGE is available as a
product subscription. The two companies said they would also participate on
joint marketing and sales efforts, including pitching MySQL on MontaVista
Linux Professional Edition for the traditional embedded market.
“MySQL is increasingly being used for embedded applications, in
everything from network appliances to sales kiosks,” Bertrand Matthelie,
director of alliances at MySQL AB, said in a statement. “As database
functionality becomes a requirement for intelligent devices, MySQL on
MontaVista Linux enables manufacturers to provide customers and service
providers with maximum cost savings and flexibility.”
MontaVista said CGE offers significant advantages beyond standard or
“enterprise” Linux in that it is designed to address specific needs of network
communications equipment providers that need to deal with ever-increasing
time-to-market pressures.
“Network communications equipment providers are pushing for a robust and
flexible operating system, with strong networking capabilities, scalability,
and a high level of service reliability,” said Stacey Quandt of Quandt
Analytics. “The availability of an open source carrier-class Linux platform
that addresses the requirements of the telecommunications industry is a
major step that will drive innovation in the sector.”
MontaVista has been currying favor with other database vendors of late.
Two weeks ago the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said its Carrier Grade
Linux would support database software from Sleepycat.
MySQL said they’ve seen the momentum. A growing number of leading
telecommunications and networking companies, such as AdventNet, Alcatel,
Aprisma, Atchik, Cox Communications, F5 Networks, Onlinetel, Siemens and
Tekelec, now rely on MySQL, the company said. MontaVista recently named nine
global Tier 1 network equipment providers that use its Carrier Grade Edition
Linux as a preferred development platform. The list includes Alcatel,
Agilent UK, Ericsson, NEC, Nokia, and Samsung.
The mixture of Linux and telecommunications is proving to be a perfect
storm. The telco services industry has seen recent increases in cap-ex spending driven by deregulation,
infrastructure upgrades, pent-up demand in the developing countries and
Voice over IP services. Research and analyst firm IDC is
forecasting the telco services market should grow by 11 percent over the
prior year to $137 billion. Linux has been playing an increasing role in
the saga.
According to its Enterprise Server Tracker, IDC also said Linux server
shipments and spending will grow at compound annual growth rates of 40
percent and 31 percent, respectively, from 2002 to 2007.
This is the second consecutive quarter in which Linux servers have posted
more than $900 million in worldwide factory revenue, nearing the $1 billion
mark. Compared with the first quarter of 2003, Linux servers showed 56.9 growth, while unit
shipments grew 46.4. IDC noted that Linux server revenue and unit shipments
have grown at double-digit rates since the second half of 2002.
“Despite past concerns about Linux scalability and its suitability for
enterprise applications, the data shows that the market continues to invest
strongly in Linux servers,” Jean Bozman, IDC research vice president, Global
Enterprise Server Solutions said. “Linux servers are playing increasingly
important roles in IT customers’ computing infrastructure. They are taking
on enterprise workloads, now that more ISV applications are available for
both technical and commercial workloads on the Linux server platform.”
