SNAP PLANS FOR SCALBLLE BLOB STREAMING ACHITECTURE FOR MYSYQL.

SNAP Innovation GmbH, Hanburg, Germany, makers of the PrimeBase XT (PBXT) storage engine for MySQL; has announced plans to lead the development of a scalable BLOB streaming architecture for MySQL, the popular open source database. For more information, visit http://www.mysql.com and http://www.blobstreaming.org.

The new technology will transform MySQL into a scalable media server capability of streaming pictures, films, MP3 files and other binary and text objects (BLOBs) directly in and out of the database. The implementation calls for a specialized stream orientated protocol along side the standard MySQL client/server protocol. The system will provide scale-out capabilities in order to handle the most demanding throughput requirements.

Although SNAP has specifically designed the PBXT engine to handle this type of data efficiently, the new system will be open, providing BLOB streaming functionality for all engines that plug into the MySQL multi-engine architecture.

"We are excited about this development and welcome this new expansion of the MySQL ecosystem. The Scalable BLOB Streaming Architecture will provide users of MySQL with another alternative way of storing and delivering large data objects like multimedia files inside the MySQL Server. MySQL AB is glad to support this project and encourages its users to participate and support SNAP in the ongoing development process", said Kaj Arno, vice president of Community Relations at MySQL.

SNAP is now looking towards the MySQL community and would like to involve as many potential users and contributors as possible. "The project is in the early design stage, so the requirements of those that get involved now can significantly influence the outcome", said Paul McCullagh, CTO of SNAP Innovation. "We will be doing the main work, but we really want to include as many people from the community as possible. Particularly in the development of the client side connectors for languages like PHP, Ruby or Java".

SNAP Innovation GmbH was founded in February 1996 in Hamburg, Germany, and currently has 28 employees. Today SNAP focuses on the development and distribution of client/server database technology, but also on the sales, support and integration of database centric publishing systems.

To this end, SNAP works with a number of national and international companies all over Europe and in the United States. SoftCare (Germany), Managing Editors (USA), Merlin (Germany), AO International (Belgium), Sinedita (Italy) and Vertical Systems (Sweden) are among them. Together with its partners, SNAP has provided solutions for various companies in the print publishing sector, including publishing group Milchstrasse, KircherBurkhardt Berlin, De Lloyd N.V. (Antwerp), Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung.

For more information, visit http:///www.snap.de.