Sybase

Sybase to enter cloud through mobility

A recent report noting some big wins in the mobile-platform space by former database powerhouse Sybase has some interesting observations about what this means for the company's role in the cloud-computing market. Since 1998, Sybase CEO John Chen has been redirecting the company's efforts toward mobility, which he claims is now paying off big time.

Most interesting to me, however, is Chen's claim that cloud computing means a big opportunity for his mobile-platform business. As the article notes:

Sybase's mobile platform may provide a cloud-based lifeline for the likes of SAP, Microsoft, and Oracle, providing those … Read more

SAP to offer corporate apps on iPhone

Corporate software makers SAP and Sybase are teaming up to make it easier for business users to access SAP's software on mobile devices such as Apple's iPhone.

SAP, which is the world's biggest maker of business management software, is already working with Research In Motion to develop applications for the BlackBerry. But now SAP says it will extend its software to other devices like the iPhone.

Sybase, which provides database software to large companies, already sells programs that let users access corporate applications and information on their mobile devices. But now it says it will work closely … Read more

Sybase earnings sail past Street's expectations

Correction: Sybase reported a 13 percent increase in license revenue, based on constant currency.

Update at 7:49 a.m. PST, with comments from the conference call.

Sybase posted fourth-quarter results on Wednesday that sailed past Wall Street's earnings expectations.

With earnings driven by strong growth in its core database business, company shares jumped 7.8 percent to $27.87 in early-morning trading.

Revenues during the quarter rose to $305.1 million, up 3 percent over the same time a year ago. Wall Street was expecting the enterprise software company to make $300.3 million, according to Thomson Reuters. … Read more

Sybase hits $1 billion in revenue, but is it enough?

Sybase hit the $1 billion revenue mark in posting its year-end results Thursday--and we're not talking the number of hamburgers served, either.

But is meeting its milestone mark of $1 billion in revenues, along with soundly beating analysts' fourth quarter revenue and earnings forecasts, (as noted by The Street.com), enough to fight off a proxy battle with one of its largest shareholders, Sandell Asset Management.

Sandell wants Sybase to consider selling off its mobility business in an IPO, or even unloading all or part of the company via a sale. And to push the issue, Sandell wants to … Read more

Sybase may face proxy fight

Business software company Sybase may be headed for a proxy fight, The Wall Street Journal is reporting. Sandall Asset Management, a company controlled by hedge fund manager Thomas Sandell, has notified Sybase that it plans to elect its own three candidates to the company's board. Sandell is Sybase's second-largest institutional investor.

The notice comes more than two months after Sandell asked Sybase to explore its strategic options, including putting itself up for sale, an initial public offering, or spinoff.

Read the full story at The Wall Street Journal (subscription required): "Sybase holder Sandell is poised for proxy fight&… Read more

Sybase aims to get users unwired

Las Vegas, or "Sin City"--24/7 gambling, drinking, food buffets and general round-the-clock fun. It's a great place to take tightly wired co-workers and get them unwired.

But that's not quite what Rob Veitch has in mind, when he attends Sybase's annual TechWave user conference in Las Vegas beginning Tuesday.

Veitch, senior director of business development for Sybase, touted his company's plans to unveil its unwired enterprise partnership with Taiwanese smart phone maker High Tech Computer (HTC) at the conference.

The HTC alliance is designed to bolster Sybase's mobility efforts, in getting … Read more

Sybase builds ladder with mobility and database sales

Sybase CEO John Chen is looking to build a ladder.

But before you hand the guy a hammer, try driving over a truckload of shims. You see, one side of Chen's ladder is his core $700 million in database sales, the other side is a mere $300 million in mobility sales.

Get the picture?

"I want to build a ladder with two comparable businesses, worth $800 million each," an enthusiastic Chen exclaimed the other day, during an interview after Sybase posted stronger than expected second quarter results.

So, as Chen checks out the local M&A … Read more

Win some, lose some

Database and mobile software maker Sybase reported its first quarter results Thursday. Pro forma earnings reached 27 cents a share, beating Wall Street analysts' estimates by a penny.

That's the good news.

Revenues, however were slightly weaker than what Wall Street soothsayers were expecting, coming in at $230 million, verses their expectations of $231.6 million. The company's stock got punished, falling 6.8 percent to $24.42 a share at the close.

That's the bad news.

John Chen, Sybase's CEO, says he's baffled by the street's reaction, given that revenues overall were up … Read more

Sybase: Multicore software pricing a moot point

Conventional wisdom has it that software companies, accustomed to charging license fees on the basis of how many processors are in a computer, are struggling with the arrival of multicore processors. Companies such as Oracle or IBM want to charge per processor core now that multiple processing engines can be crammed onto a single slice of silicon, or in the case of Intel's new Xeon 5300 "Clovertown" processor, into a chip package. Some companies charge per processor socket, while others persist in charging per processor core.

But according to one software executive, the market is one step … Read more