MySQL AB Inks Major Commercial Contract

UPPSALA, Sweden - (March 18, 2002) - MySQL AB, developer of the world's most popular open source database, today announced that Ericsson Canada, Inc., a division of the world's leading telecommunications supplier, has purchased a company-wide commercial license for the MySQL database server. This license gives all Ericsson departments and affiliates worldwide the right to develop and resell a commercial product containing the open-source MySQL code.

The MySQL open source database embodies a unique software architecture that maximizes speed and power in an extremely compact design. While MySQL is available at no cost to everyone under the standard open-source GNU General Public License (GPL), MySQL AB also offers non-GPL commercial licenses. These commercial licenses are appropriate for companies that want to develop and re-sell a product that contains MySQL code. Ericsson has purchased an umbrella commercial license so it can offer cross-departmental access to the MySQL database and the MySQL AB support and services.

"Our relationship with Ericsson demonstrates how highly reliable, battle-tested open source software is no longer the 'best kept secret' of the development community," said Mårten Mickos, MySQL CEO. "MySQL has become an important part of business-critical projects in many large commercial companies, and we are pleased to see leaders like Ericsson using the commercial license option so they can integrate MySQL into all their projects."

From its inception in 1995, MySQL AB has passionately supported and promoted the open source philosophy that people should be able to freely read, redistribute and modify source code to promote rapid improvement and evolution of software. Profitable since 1996, the company is leading the evolution of the open source movement by establishing a model for sustained profitability and growth through an open source product. This business model leverages the company's full ownership of the MySQL name and trademark as well as the company's depth of MySQL expertise. MySQL provides its customers with a range of support, consulting and training services, as well as a MySQL partnership program.

About MySQL

MySQL AB develops, markets and supports the MySQL database server, the world's most popular open source database. The MySQL database, which is free and available to everyone, has over three million users, including major corporations such as Yahoo!, MP3.com (Vivendi Universal), Motorola, NASA, Silicon Graphics, HP, Xerox, Cisco and Texas Instruments. It is available under the open-source GNU General Public License (GPL) or a non-GPL commercial license. MySQL is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, but is a true virtual company, with employees throughout the world. For more information about MySQL, please go to www.MYSQL.com.

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