SQL Server 2012 vs Oracle - Key Licensing update

How many of Oracle’s customers outcry about Oracle’s core based database licensing? We might have certainly heard ‘on the fense’ customers simply preferring to go with Microsoft SQLServer due to its bargain processor-based licensing. Of course, this article’s purpose is not to compare the features.
Looks like Microsoft recently realized that they need to do something to pump up their mid-20s stock price.  Rightly so, MS preferred to follow Oracle’s foot-steps to be ingenious with their licensing metrics. Effective SQLServer 2012, you will not be able to buy socket-based licenses. Yes. SQLServer will be sold in core-based licensing. Here are some additional details from Microsoft on SQLServer 2012 core-based licensing.

• Enterprise and Standard editions will be available under core-based licensing. Cored-based licenses will be sold in two-core packs. The Standard Edition will also be available as a Server+ CAL licensing option.
• To license a physical server, you must license all the cores in the server, with a minimum of 4 core licenses required for each physical processor in the server.

So what does this mean to companies using SQLServer and as well as Oracle? Well, now SQLServer doesn’t have the vast competitive cost advantage over Oracle as it did before and this could lead companies to stick to Oracle, especially with the magnitude of features that you get for the same or marginally higher price.
Nonetheless, this could also help Microsoft’s immobile stock price to shoot up a bit, when its customers stack up licensing until they figure out cost-effective strategies including server consolidation, etc.
Additional Oracle and SQLServer licensing details can be found here:
http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/pricing/index.html
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/future-editions/sql2012-licensing.aspx