Quote:Sun Microsystems is to pay $1bn for open source database developer MySQL.

MySQL's open source databases are widely used online, but Sun is hoping to increase their use in more traditional IT and enterprise settings. The database is used by many websites - 50,000 copies a day are downloaded.

MySQL will be integrated into Sun's Software, Sales and Services organisation. MySQL's CEO Marten Mickos will join Sun's "senior executive team", and a group made up of staff from both companies will help sort out the integration.

The company makes a range of databases, including MySQL Enterprise Server, MySQL Enterprise Monitor, and MySQL Embedded Database, and claims 100 million copies have been downloaded at some time. It provides the "M" in LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python) - the software stack much of the web runs on.

Although Sun is generally seen as a good friend to the open source community, it will be interesting to see how that sometimes touchy group reacts to the corporate takeover.

MySQL is run from Cupertino, California, and Uppsala, Sweden. It has 400 staff in 25 countries.

Sun is paying $800m in cash and will take on $200m in share options.

The press release is here