What Sun buying MySQL means to Boise

The Sun acquisition came as a total shock for local MySQL employees. MySQL has been talking about an IPO since the summer and the local office has been planning to expand. While the acquisition came as a surprise, local employees seem optimistic.

Rich Taylor, one of MySQL’s Marketing Managers says that they expect MySQL to be left alone for now and to be rolled into Sun’s Software Division.

Little is known what all of the implications for MySQL or their local office will be. Exec’s are obviously tight lipped, since the merger still has to be approved and is scheduled to be official as of April 1st.

Did you even know that MySQL has an office in Boise? Don’t feel bad if you didn’t, I’ve found very few people who do. It’s out by behind the Target by Barnes & Noble.

It’s a small office, with only about 17 people in it that’s been here for about two and a half years. That may not sound significant but it’s one of MySQL’s six official offices. About 70% employees work virtually.

What originally started out as a pre-sales office now houses employees in administration, finance, support and marketing.

This makes the second high tech acquisition that will bring a major player to town. The first being Microsoft’s acquisition of Proclarity. While we haven’t seen major changes from that move, many in the valley are hopeful.

The Boise Valley Economic Partnership (BVEP) is in ongoing talks with Microsoft. Boise is in the running to become the city of choice for a second Redmond campus. Denver is the other city in consideration. While Boise has an advantage because of price, Denver has an advantage with a larger talent pool to pull from. Keep your fingers crossed.

Hopefully this will provide more opportunity for high tech growth in the valley. If Boise is able to beat out Denver as the new location for Microsoft’s expansion, I don’t think it would be unrealistic to hope that MySQL/Sun would do the same. That is a pretty big IF though.

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