MySQL AB to Re-brand SAP DB "MaxDB"

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - (August 5, 2003) - MySQL AB, developer of the world's most popular open source database, today announced that it is re-branding the SAP DB database "MaxDB™,” which it will offer as a MySQL AB product beginning in Q4 2003. Through a technology and cross licensing partnership with SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) announced on May 27, 2003, MySQL AB has acquired full commercial rights to develop and market future releases of SAP DB, SAP’s enterprise-level open source database. MaxDB by MySQL is targeted at large SAP R/3 environments and other applications that require maximum enterprise-level database functionality.

"With MaxDB as part of our open source product line, we will be able to immediately offer a database that addresses the requirements of the most demanding enterprise applications, “ said Mårten Mickos, MySQL AB CEO. “The launch of MaxDB by MySQL will be a significant first step in our multi-year effort to develop, with SAP AG, the next generation MySQL enterprise database that combines the performance and stability of MySQL and the enterprise-level functionality of MaxDB.”

MySQL AB is an SAP Global Technology Partner and is working with SAP to bring new open source database technologies to the enterprise. The companies will jointly develop and support MaxDB by MySQL, with MySQL taking the product management lead, and both MySQL and SAP will offer MaxDB to their customers. MySQL and SAP are also collaborating on developing a future MySQL enterprise database that leverages the unique strengths of MySQL and MaxDB.

"With SAP DB's integration into the active MySQL open source community as MaxDB, it will quickly evolve as an even stronger enterprise database,” said Karl-Heinz Hess, Extended Management Board, Technology Development, SAP AG. “SAP will continue to provide MaxDB to meet customer demand for cost-effective, open source data management software, and we are looking forward to working with MySQL AB to further develop open source technologies for the enterprise.”

MaxDB- MySQL Interoperability

MaxDB by MySQL is a heavy-duty enterprise database that complements MySQL AB’s MySQL database, one of the most widely used databases in the world, known for its speed and stability. MaxDB will include interoperability designed to facilitate migration between it and the high performance MySQL database. Users will also be able to build applications using both the MySQL and MaxDB databases together.

For example, a MySQL proxy using the MySQL protocol will be added to MaxDB, making it possible for the large number of MySQL users to connect to a MaxDB server using familiar MySQL tools against a MaxDB database. MaxDB will also be able to hook up onto MySQL replication, with MaxDB able to act both as a “slave” and a “master.”

MaxDB Re-branding Transition

The current SAP DB version is 7.4; all subsequent SAP DB versions will carry the name MaxDB by MySQL. The first MaxDB release, version 7.5.00, will be a straight re-branding of SAP DB 7.4; the next version, MaxDB 7.5.01, will provide the added functionality to ensure interoperability with the MySQL database. MaxDB version 7.5 will have full backward compatibility with SAP DB 7.4, only extending its feature set with regard to MySQL interoperability. For SAP DB users, a smooth and easy upgrade will be offered from SAP DB 7.4 to MaxDB 7.5.

At the time of MaxDB's release, the present www.sapdb.org Web site will move to www.mysql.com/maxdb/. All relevant MaxDB information, documentation and downloads will from then on be available at the MySQL Web site. SAP DB version 7.3 and 7.4 will be offered for download from the MySQL Web site until March 31, 2004.

MySQL AB will re-name the current MySQL product, “MySQL Max,” which is the database package that includes all MySQL storage engines and cutting-edge features. MySQL will announce the new name for MySQL Max prior to MaxDB’s availability.

Licensing and Support

As with all MySQL AB products, MaxDB by MySQL will be offered under MySQL’s “dual licensing “ business model. MySQL AB will provide it at no cost under the free software/open source GNU General Public License (GPL), and it will also offer, for the first time, a commercial license for MaxDB. The commercial license is aimed at companies that do not want to make their products open source-compliant, such as those that plan to resell the database.

SAP AG will provide product support for MaxDB, with support evolving into a tiered approach between MySQL and SAP. MySQL and SAP will jointly support SAP DB commercial licenses sold by MySQL.

"While continuing the SAP commitment to open source with the GPL, we are offering MaxDB licensing that provides users with the best of two worlds: the freedom, price and flexibility of Free/Open Source Software, as well as the option of working under a commercial license, which provides the right to develop proprietary or 'closed source' products according to industry practice with MaxDB," MySQL AB co-founder David Axmark noted.

About MySQL

MySQL AB develops, markets and supports the MySQL database server, the world's most popular open source database. With an estimated 4 million installations and over 30,000 downloads per day, MySQL is quickly becoming the core of many high-volume, business-critical applications. Major corporations such as Yahoo!, Lucent Technologies, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, Motorola, NASA, HP and Xerox rely on the ultra-fast, highly reliable MySQL database. MySQL is available under the free software/open source GNU General Public License (GPL) or a non-GPL commercial license. For more information about MySQL, please go to www.mysql.com.

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MySQL is a registered trademark of MySQL AB in the U.S. and in other countries. Other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective corporations.