News
Microsoft Sets Launch Date for Three Key Products
SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006 will be formally
launched during the week of Nov. 7, according to Paul Flessner, senior vice
president of Server Applications at Microsoft at this week’s Microsoft
TechEd 2005.
"By delivering an application platform for connected systems, these products
will help jump-start growth in IT by enabling customers and partners to [use]
new tools to increase operational efficiencies and become more competitive,”
Flessner said in a keynote address.
Flessner highlighted customer and partner momentum for Visual Studio 2005 and
SQL Server 2005 and touted the first public Community Technology Preview for
SQL Server 2005, business intelligence functionality for SQL Server 2005, SQL
Server Migration Assistant, and the first benchmarks for SQL Server 2005. Flessner
also outlined Microsoft's RFID initiative.
Flessner said Microsoft is helping developers and IT professionals adjust to
rapidly evolving business requirements by providing unprecedented developer
productivity, connecting customers, partners and employees with the information
they need to drive better business and buying decisions, and ensuring readiness
to handle the most demanding mission-critical applications.
Microsoft has eight customers that have also put SQL Server 2005 into production,
and Microsoft expects more than 20 customers will have implemented SQL Server
2005 by the launch. Microsoft also continues to deploy SQL Server 2005 internally,
with more than 80 applications that store and analyze multiple terabytes of
data.
About 40 partners, including Altiris, Computer Associates, DeKlarit, Quest
Software and Red Gate Software, have announced plans to support Visual Studio
2005 and SQL Server 2005.
Microsoft released the June Community Technology Preview SQL Server 2005. It’s
the first prerelease version of SQL Server 2005 and can be downloaded at http://www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads.
With this CTP, customers and partners will be able to test the BI components
included in SQL Server 2005. Flessner also said Microsoft will extend SQL Server
2005 Reporting Services from Standard and Enterprise Editions to all versions
of SQL Server 2005, including Express and Workgroup Editions. In addition, SQL
Server 2005 Report Builder will be available with Workgroup, Standard and Enterprise
Editions.
Microsoft has released its SQL Server Migration Assistant designed to smooth
a migration from Oracle to SQL Server. Flessner said Motorola, Simon & Schuster,
Atento Brasil S/A and TransCanadian Pipelines have successfully migrated to
SQL Server 2000 and saw up to 80 percent reduction in the manual processing
associated with past migrations. The SQL Server Migration Assistant is available
free at http://www.microsoft.com/sql/migration.