Last month we showed and explained how Oracle tried to 'steal' pieces of software which MySQL relied on. Essentially, Oracle tried to strip its rival naked instead of improving its own products. It also threatened to pull a MySQL ripoff at one stage (a la "Unbreakable Linux"). Predatory? For sure. But that's just the way of Larry Ellison. This was actually very similar to Microsoft's strategy against Red Hat. Microsoft uses Novell to fight both VMWare and Red Hat. It's all about Novell and Microsoft with the goal of leaving Red Hat and others out in the cold.

A couple of days ago we saw Microsoft getting closer to the new XenSource, which is no more. It is now a Microsoft partner known as Citrix. On the face of it, Microsoft continues to scoop up companies on its path to hurt rivals. The latest acquisition is Calista, which follows what seems like a by-proxy acquisition of XenSource.

Microsoft Unveils Virtualization Strategy; To Acquire Calista Technologies; Lookout, VMware

In short, the company intends to make a company-wide push to accelerate the adoption of virtualization. As part of the strategy, the company is acquiring San Jose-based Calista Technologies, a startup with technology targeted at improving end-user experience for virtualized desktops and applications

Generally, on a separate note, this trend where you see large companies merely devouring small rivals will lead to nothing but oligarchy. Later on, when the nation worries about a recession (which it does at the moment), here's a way of telling them why.

The respondents feared getting lost in the shuffle as big companies like Google and Microsoft buy smaller companies in their dueling efforts to control the lion's share of Internet advertising.

This pretty much applies to other sectors of technology as well. Intel and Oracle are no exception. One could argue that Novell is now part of Microsoft. As Matt Asay puts it, Novell is a vassal. ⬆