More of us want to access work applications via our mobile phones The world's largest maker of business software, SAP, has agreed to buy California's Sybase for $5.8bn. The deal boosts SAP in its battle with rival Oracle, the world's leading maker of business database software. SAP is paying $65 a share in cash, a 44% premium on Sybase's recent average share price. The move will expand the German company's ability to deliver access to its software via smartphones and other mobile devices. "Mobile devices are becoming the preferred interaction point with business applications, whether the user is a factory supervisor, a retail manager or an entrepreneur in a developing nation," said Jim Hagemann Snabe, joint chief executive of SAP. "We want to make sure SAP solutions can be accessed from all leading mobile devices. The acquisition of Sybase will allow us and our partners to do just that." Mr Hagemann and joint-co-chair Bill McDermott have been under pressure to counter mounting competition from rival software maker Oracle since they took the reins of the German company in February. Mr Hagemann Snabe says the deal offers more to smartphone users Oracle and SAP compete to sell software to businesses and this deal expands the areas where their services overlap. Oracle is the market leader in selling database programmes which allow companies to catalogue and retrieve information. The company has spent billions of dollars over the last few years expanding its reach into the market for more general business applications. The purchase of Sybase, the world's fourth-largest database software company, gives SAP a foothold in that market. The companies hope to complete the deal in the third quarter of this year. SAP's US shares fell marginally on the news, down 40 cents to $44.50. Sybase shares have risen by more than a third since news of the deal was first reported.



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