The Inquirer reports:

SYBASE HAS released a free enterprise-class database for both development and production purposes. Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) Express Edition for Linux will mean that developers can now build, test and deploy experimental concepts and new applications with no licence fee.

OK there are some open source database’s out there, but Sybase claims that this is the first ‘industrial strength’ one so we are taking its word for it.

The big idea is that if developers use this one they will be more inclined to use Sybase over the likes of Oracle when they come to company roll outs.

We should point out that the support plans, including telephone support and named support contacts, are available starting at $2,200 per year. Sybase has produced some guff for people to read on its web site.