Virgin Mobile Implements MySQL Enterprise

10 January 2008, 5:03pm

PARIS - January 10, 2008 - Virgin Mobile, a leading Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), has implemented a MySQL Enterprise Platinum subscription to manage its data using the world's most popular open source database.

The mobile phone operator has become very popular thanks to a particularly attractive offer: unlimited outgoing SMS text messages towards all operators, for an unlimited time.

In terms of mobile applications, SMS remains the most commonly used medium. The considerable storage and processing requirements for SMS require a highly available database management system. Over 500 gigabytes are contained in MySQL data tables, and subject to thousands of queries per second. This solution handles the processing of Virgin Mobile’s SMS messaging -- where each individual text message can generate over a hundred database queries on average (analysis, processing the response, and annual statistics).

All applications have been developed internally at Virgin Mobile, based on a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python) platform. This ensures the operator a significant return on investment compared with a proprietary system. Virgin Mobile has designed a highly-available MySQL-based platform that has proven to be highly scalable, particularly at peak times. This service is at the heart of all SMS/mobile applications -- but also operates the CRM applications, the billing and the management of Virgin Mobile orders.

Bearing in mind the critical nature of the data, the MySQL Enterprise Platinum offering subscribed by the operator includes enterprise class database software, monitoring tools and production support. With this premium service, the response of a MySQL support expert is guaranteed in less than 30 minutes, 24x7, 365 days a year.

"The phenomenal growth in the number of subscribers to mobile phone services has led telecom operators and equipment manufacturers to develop new modern infrastructures to meet their customers' needs," declares Joe Morrissey, MySQL's senior director of worldwide telecom sales. "MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition and MySQL Enterprise are now at the heart of the solutions implemented by the leading industry players. We are delighted about this additional endorsement by Virgin Mobile."

About MySQL
MySQL AB develops and supports a family of high-performance, affordable database products. The company’s flagship offering is 'MySQL Enterprise', a comprehensive set of production-tested software, proactive monitoring tools, and premium support services.

MySQL is the world's most popular open source database software. Many of the world's largest and fastest-growing organizations use MySQL to save time and money powering their high-volume Web sites, business-critical systems and packaged software -- including industry leaders such as Yahoo!, Alcatel-Lucent, Google, Nokia, YouTube and Booking.com.

With headquarters in the United States and Sweden - and operations around the world - MySQL AB supports both open source values and corporate customers' needs.

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