Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!motcsd!jon
From: jon@motcsd.csd.mot.com (jonathan.ma)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: Sybase still around?
Message-ID: <1163@engadm3.csd.mot.com>
Date: 18 Jul 90 16:54:55 GMT
References: <113619@linus.mitre.org>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Motorola CSD, Cupertino CA
Lines: 33

In article <113619@linus.mitre.org> cazier@mbunix.mitre.org (Cazier) writes:
>A couple of years ago, Sybase looked like a strong contender in the RDBMS
>world, but I see nearly nothing about them in this newsgroup and wonder
>if they are losing ground rapidly, have been sold out to some other company,
>or just what gives.

I agree with you.  Sybase doesn't seem to grow as rapidly as Oracle or
Informix.  However, I believe most of the Sybase customers are federal or
state departments, therefore, you wouldn't hear from them in here.

>Although they have been rated recently as a company to watch (Wall Street)
>I see virtually no visibility in trade journals, no istalled base track
>record, and little advertising by them --- so what gives?

That's true. But, Sun Microsystems has Sybase on their catalog.  A recent
posting tells us that lots of people at Sun use Sybase RDBMS and they have
built-up a support organization for Sybase RDBMS.

Having worked at one of RDBMS company for 3+ years, I can say that they spend
about 2% annual revenue on advertising and Marketing Communications (MARCOMM).
I don't know about Sybase MARCOM, however, I believe they have so many people
calling (that's a fact, I worked for a company that did) Sybase to get them
interested in a business relationship (OEMs and VARs).  They don't need a lot
of ads :-).

Anyway, don't get discouraged if you don't see a lot of Sybase ads. I'd say
if you like Sybase, go work for Sybase.

-- 
-Jon-		Jonathan Ma, Motorola, Computer Group, Computer Systems Division
		Phone: (408) 366-4191  FAX: (408) 366-4125
		UUCP: {apple,pyramid}!motcsd!jon   Internet: jon@csd.mot.com
		Disclaimer: Those views are mine, not my employer's.