Tema Networks selects Sun’s MySQL embedded database to power its real time mobile billing solution

Helsinki, Finland – April 7th, 2009 – Sun Microsystems today announced that Tema Networks has selected Sun's MySQL Embedded Server to meet to its demanding database requirements. Tema Networks' Home Zone Billing (HZB) telecom solution handles over a thousand queries per second and tens of Gigabytes of data, with rapid data volume growth expected as the service is deployed to more regions.

"MySQL's pricing model, and its ability to deliver high performance on affordable commodity systems contributes to the competitiveness of Tema Networks' solution, saving one of our customers nearly 1 million Euros compared to proprietary database offerings," says Tero Heinonen, CEO, Tema Networks Ltd."Our previous experience of MySQL is very positive and we value the MySQL software's ease of use. In addition, we benefit from both fast development and quick time-to-market by using MySQL."

Tema Networks develops billing and value added services solutions for mobile network operators around the world. Tema Networks' HZB solution offers a cost-effective alternative to fixed line phone users. HZB is location-aware, allowing for variable tariffs based on the location of the subscriber at the time they make a call. This enables the operator to offer competitive pricing for mobile communications when used as a substitute for fixed lines in the home while maintaining revenue and margin when real mobility outside of the home is required.

"For us, MySQL is the gold standard in databases," says Tuomas Ranta, Chief Software Architect, Tema Networks. "It meets our most stringent performance and availability requirements running in clusters over vast geographic areas. The extensive knowledge base and simple architecture enabled us to quickly and easily integrate MySQL into our Home Zone Billing solution."

Tema's HZB solution has recently been adopted by one of the leading mobile operators in the European and Asian markets, serving 90 million subscribers across two continents. By investing in this solution, the operator can secure new revenue streams and higher average revenue per user (ARPU) through Fixed Mobile Convergence and through fixed line migration. This provides all the convenience of a single telephone number while ensuring telecommunications costs remain within their users' telephony budget.

Tema Network's HZB solution needed a database that could meet its customers' stringent requirements for both high performance and availability while processing extremely high data volumes. MySQL Embedded Server has over 2000 ISV and OEM customers, many of them large, global telecommunications vendors with millions of subscribers. That fact coupled with MySQL's excellent performance against Tema's internal tests gave Tema the confidence to rely on MySQL Embedded Server as part of their flagship product.

"Mobile device penetration among consumers is already saturated in many developed markets," said Matti Rantanen, MySQL Nordic Telecoms Sales Manager at Sun Microsystems. "In order to sustain growth, mobile operations need to find new sources of revenue and enter new market segments. Tema Network's HZB solution is a key enabler for mobile operators to do this. By embedding the MySQL database, Tema Networks was able to accelerate the time-to-market of their new solution, with a highly competitive offering that can meet all of the performance and availability requirements demanded by operators."

About Tema Networks

Tema Networks is a Finnish telecom product and telecom service company. Tema Networks specializes in delivering customized products, services and projects to telecom operators everywhere in the world. Tema Networks develops Value Added Services (VAS) and communication service solutions for mobile network operators around the world. Based in Finland, Tema Network's management team are seasoned professionals with a combined experience of over 40 years, holding senior level positions within leading suppliers to the Communications industry. www.temanetworks.com

About Sun's MySQL Database

MySQL is the most popular open source database software in the world. Many of the world's largest and fastest-growing organizations use MySQL to save time and money powering their high-volume Web sites, critical business systems, and commercial software. At http://www.mysql.com, Sun provides corporate users with premium subscriptions and services, and actively supports the large MySQL open source developer community.