That's right. This press release uses "free" and "Oracle" in the same sentence. Perhaps feeling the heat from SQL Server 2005, Oracle has plans to release a free version of its database by year end to compete in the SMB market, suddenly becoming a concern in the BI marketplace.
Obviously, there are going to be limitations. The database is limited to 4 GB of data, 1 GB RAM and 1 processor. The goal is for this "express edition" to become a gateway to actual production-capable purchases.
Oracle and IBM need SMB stories to be considered full service. This is something that becomes more critical in a maturing market, such as what some indicators are suggesting we have with database management systems. Both have solid higher-end products. The only alternative to this strategy would seem to be acquiring MySQL. Interestingly, Postgres and Ingres were adopted already, but not to lower-end products, but to the higher-end products of Netezza and Datallegro.
Posted November 9, 2005 9:26 AM
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