Oracle & My SQL

From le MagIT

Sun Acquisition - EU in the way

EU published a statement of objections regarding the Sun purchase.
Press Informations DenverPost,
Sun Microsystems blocked in between, is probably suffering many damages from those delays.
Let's not forget the Sun Employees either!

Sun Acquisition Clearance - More clouds in the way

A recent information relayed by the Financial Times, tends to indicate EU is hardening its position towards Oracle, regarding the anti trust probe concerning MySQL.
85 % of the database marketshare is controled by Oracle/IBM/Microsoft, and EU is concerned by the level of concentration in this arena, Oracle already leading the way.


This announcement is following exchanges of bullets between EU and Oracle officials regarding who's to blame, in the delays. "commission officials confirmed that, in spite of ”repeated requests”, Oracle had neither provided them with evidence that the deal would not cause competition problems, nor discussed possible remedies."

"Sun is losing $100m a month as Oracle waited for approval of the deal", justifying yet another wave of 3000 job cuts...

On one side we have a company fighting for survival, and on the other, an angel coming at its rescue for the hard price in database arena, but for yet more competition in hardware space...

Oracle Tax Haven Operations

One of our reader brought this very interesting internal document to our attention.
Please consider the paragraph starting with "Risks Identified".

Isn't it time for a Corporation to pay its tax to local countries like any normal company does ?
Isn't it time for more social leadership and less social marketing ?
Isn't it time for more employee dialogue ?

Read More : TaxJustice Blog, CFDT Labor Union Oracle Tax Video, Congress 1265 Bill, Delaware,

Comments welcome !

Dear Mrs Catz

A recent fortune article made a very good presentation of Safra Catz we recommand every employee to consider.

"If it's not in the numbers, I don't care how strategic it is, it doesn't play out."

The key was centralizing control. As an example, Catz cited the revamping of Oracle's customer-support service, a mundane yet critical cost center for all businesses. Before, Oracle offered support in soothing local accents and at tiered rates. After Catz was done crunching the numbers, all customers received 24/7 service at a single, lower price and from whichever product specialist picked up the line. "No negotiation," she said.

With two banking-oriented co-presidents, Oracle began methodically picking off one billion-dollar-plus software company after another -- Siebel and BEA were the biggest to follow PeopleSoft -- as well as scores of smaller tuck-in acquisitions that made Oracle a player in business applications.


Full Fortune Article.

Pittsburgh G-20 Process Must Tackle Banking Secrecy, Illicit Financial Flows

Employee reps are constantly beeing refused access to informations regarding Oracle offshore operations.
We do support the "Global Financial Integrity" call to urge leaders to pursue measures to increase transparency in global finance and curtail illicit financial flows.
Why would there be such a secrecy, with autonomous computer networks not linked to the main Oracle Intranet, and impressive firewalls ?
Why would an honest company still need so many holdings in Haven Islands ?

We know for sure Oracle CAPAC is driving key operations to prevent country tax authorities to challenge zero or near zero withholing rates applied.
An other example, France Tax authorities are conducting a 6+ years revenue recognition review, challenging the operating cost transfer ratios used by the company.

It's time for an higher morale in Corporations !

Any information, idea on your side, other examples regarding those operations please contact us. We will guaranty your anonymity :

Sun/Oracle Merger - EU Antitrust Probe

On Sept. 3, European Union regulators launched an antitrust probe into Oracle's (ORCL) tentative deal of Sun Microsystems (JAVA), saying they wanted to make sure Oracle was committed to developing Sun's rival open-source database software, MySQL.

"While getting MySQL as part of the Sun deal would eliminate a feisty competitor for Oracle, it's unlikely that the software giant would risk scuttling the deal over this issue. Amid the uncertainty over regulatory approval, Sun lost market share in the computer server business to IBM and Dell (DELL) in the second quarter, according to market researcher Gartner. If push comes to shove, Oracle will likely set MySQL free."

Image Courtesy of LeMagIT - http://www.lemagit.fr
Quotes from Business Week Article
Read More : Business Week, Guardian,