Web Development Live

Helpstream, a leading provider of on-demand collaborative customer service solutions, today announced the general availability of the Helpstream Summer 2008 release, which contains over 130 enhancements to help companies understand customer attitudes, tap into community knowledge, and build winning relationships. By further integrating case management, knowledge management, and community collaboration, companies can leverage the power and familiarity of the Web to engage their customers in a rich, collaborative self service experience.

“Many companies turn to call deflection as a way to deal with increasing service demand, but in doing so they fail to engage the customer at a point where their attitudes and needs are conspicuously obvious,” said Anthony Nemelka, CEO of Helpstream. “By placing Community at the forefront of customer service, Helpstream enables anyone in a company or its community to be an effective customer service agent. This truly modern approach significantly expands the pool of knowledge available to each user by leveraging the Internet for what it does best connecting people to information quickly and effectively.”

The challenge for many companies is that their interaction with customers is too often one dimensional centered on resolving issues and ending the interaction. Consumer familiarity with Web 2.0 tools has led to higher expectations. Helpstream provides a convenient and affordable alternative to this one-size-fits-all service approach and helps companies embrace the web-enabled world to build customer loyalty through relationships.

Helpstream is an approachable application designed to engage users in a company’s customer community with an easy to learn and use interface, while offering internal service organizations the same benefits combined with ease of administration and a low cost deployment model.

The Helpstream Summer 2008 release continues to build on this idea by leveraging end-user familiarity with common office productivity tools, such as email and calendaring software.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

In a surprise move, Sun Microsystems said it’s acquiring privately held open source database vendor MySQL AB for approximately USD 1 billion.Called the largest open source software deal ever, the merger makes Sun the owner of a critical part of the popular LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL Perl/Python/PHP) open source software stack. Sun already has been offering up its own software to open source, even basing its development tools strategy on the open source NetBeans platform.Following completion of the proposed transaction, MySQL will be integrated into Sun’s Software, Sales and Service organizations and the company’s CEO, Marten Mickos, will be joining Sun’s senior executive leadership team. In the interim, a joint team with representatives from both companies will develop integration plans.With the move, Sun takes a big leap into the USD 15bn database market, which brings it into competition with companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Oracle. Acquiring MySQL also gives Sun entry to customers that may be interested in buying more equipment and software; MySQL counts Facebook, Google, Nokia and Baidu as customers.Open source CRM vendor SugarCRM, PHP tools vendor Zend Technologies, and SpringSource, makers of the open source Spring Framework for Java development applauded the deal. “I think open source has gone mainstream,” and Sun has put its stamp on it, said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg. “We think it’s a great day for open source, and we think it’s a great day for the LAMP stack.”As part of the transaction, Sun will pay about USD 800 million in cash in exchange for all MySQL stock and assume about USD 200 million in options. The transaction is expected to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.