Sun is to offer users of its high-end Ultrasparc servers
12 months free subscription to Oracle's flagship database, in a bid
to encourage users to upgrade to the latest Sun
hardware.
Oracle said more organisations run its products on Sun hardware
than on alternative hardware platforms.
The Sun move might spark a wider price war as hardware and
software suppliers bundle products in a fight for market share.
Industry analysts are advising users already running Oracle on
Sun servers to revaluate their options and use the offer as
leverage in renegotiating licences.
David Bradshaw, principal analyst at Ovum, urged Oracle users on
existing contracts to contact Oracle to see if they could also
benefit from a reduction in annual maintenance costs.
Rob Hailstone, research director at IDC, said it was also a good
time for users to re-evaluate their hardware.
With Sun's "DB for Free" promotion, an Oracle Database licence
is free with the purchase of first-year maintenance on the
Ultrasparc IV and the Ultrasparc IV+ processor-based Sun Fire
servers.
Sun chief executive Scott McNealy and Oracle chief executive
Larry Ellison unveiled the offer last week along with a set of
initiatives to entice Oracle users.
Along with the database licensing, users will be offered a new
upgrade programme for Oracle Real Application Clusters on Sun
hardware.