What is it?
The Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) database management system,
for which Sybase is best known, holds just 3% of the market, but it
is a lucrative share, since Sybase is the preferred database for
many City firms, and average salaries for experienced developers
are well in excess of £50,000.
Sybase, or rather its offshoot iAnywhere, also dominates what is
expected to be one of the fastest growing segments of the data
management market.
According to analyst firm IDC, the worldwide market for mobile
device management (MDM) enterprise software will grow at a compound
annual growth rate of 28.8% from 2006 to 2010. For the fifth year
in a row, IDC has put Sybase at the top of that market.
Sybase's foundation MDM product is SQL Anywhere, based on the
small-footprint Adaptive Server Anywhere relational database,
together with Ultralite, a relational database with an even smaller
footprint for devices with small memories. SQL Anywhere scales from
hand-held devices to 64-bit servers.
SQL Anywhere has succeeded by appealing to independent software
suppliers looking for a fast, secure database to embed in their
applications.
Sybase is now set to challenge Microsoft on the desktop, where
it believes there is potential demand for a small-footprint,
zero-administration database.
Where did it originate?
Sybase was formed in 1984. It made a strong entry into the
relational database management system market.
In 1988, Sybase teamed up with Microsoft, providing the code for
SQL Server on Unix, while Microsoft marketed it for Windows. The
deal lasted five years, after which the Sybase SQL Server drifted
apart from Microsoft's product. It was renamed ASE in 1995.
SQL Anywhere evolved from Watcom SQL, which was acquired by
Sybase subsidiary Powersoft in 1993 and given its present name in
1995.
What's it for?
SQL Anywhere is designed for widely deployed mobile applications
that are synchronised and administered centrally, such as those
used by field sales and maintenance staff.
Synchronisation is provided by Mobilink Synchronisation Server,
with SQL Remote for users who only connect occasionally.
SQL Anywhere includes a suite of tools for developing and
managing applications, including Sybase Powerdesigner. However,
part of the product's success has been that it enables the
developer to use existing tools and skills.
Sybase is part of the Eclipse Java development platform
consortium, and the Sybase Workspace application development
environment is Eclipse-based.
What makes it special?
SQL Anywhere mobile applications can exchange data with Oracle,
DB2 and SQL Server, as well as Sybase ASE. There is a free,
downloadable version of SQL Anywhere for developers.
How difficult is it to master?
The SQL Anywhere 10 Fundamentals course, aimed at aspiring
database administrators and developers, takes four days. For the
more experienced, there is the Sybase Developer Network, which
provides support, code examples and training. It is free to join
but is controlled by Sybase.
Where is it used?
SQL Anywhere is deployed across nine million seats at 12,000
companies worldwide, according to iAnywhere. UK users include
Airtours, Whitbread, Prudential, United Utilities, Reed Elsevier
and West Ham United. It has more than 1,000 software partners
including Cisco, Intuit, Siebel and Veritas.
What systems does it run on?
Windows 2000/XP/2003, Windows Mobile (Pocket PC/Windows CE),
many versions of Linux, Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, HP-UX, Novell Netware
and Mac OS X.
Training
Training is available from Sybase and subsidiaries such as
iAnywhere and Avantgo. The SQL Anywhere Developer Edition is
available for free download from ianywhere.com.
Rates of pay
Salaries for Sybase junior developers and database
administrators start at £30,000.
www.sybase.com/detail?id=1017643
http://corp.avantgo.com/support/course_descriptions/asa_fundamentals.html
www.ianywhere.com/downloads/sqlany.html
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