Advertisment

Sybase Partners with IBM to sell database software

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

By Wei Gu

Advertisment

NEW YORK - Sybase Inc. is planning to partner with hardware vendor IBM to market its Linux database software, potentially dealing a blow to Sun Microsystems, another long-standing partner.

The new agreement helps extend IBM's reach in the financial services industry, a traditional area of strength for Sybase.

Sybase will have an opportunity to increase database software sales by teaming up with Big Blue, which has made a big push into Linux in recent years.

Advertisment

The company has a long-time partnership with Sun, one of the world's top makers of servers, the large computers that run corporate networks.

Linux is a fast-growing alternative to Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system that boasts lower development costs. But so far companies, especially banks, have been hesitant to go down the Linux path for their core banking systems.

"A tough economy in the past few years has forced companies to find every possible way to cut costs," said David Jacobson, Sybase's senior director of product management.

Advertisment

IBM has made no bones about using Sybase to take aim at Sun. The deal is part of a larger strategy by IBM to reach out to hundreds of software partners to compete against its major rivals such as Sun, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft.

The company will also be staking out closer ties to Linux later next year with Sybase rival Oracle Corp. -- albeit on a looser basis, according to Brian Connors, a vice president in charge of IBM's Linux server line for big business operations.

"Having Sybase on board validates IBM's approach to the market," Charles King, principal analyst for Pund-IT Research. "This partnership also gives Sybase an opportunity to move forward with IBM."

The Linux database software market will rise to $400 million this year, $500 million next year, and $1 billion in 2007, up from $300 million in 2003, according to Forrester Research.

tech-news