Microsoft Announces Business Availability Of SQL Server 2008

Microsoft Corporation India has announced the Release to Manufacture (RTM) of SQL Server 2008 - the latest version of its database management offering. With this, SQL Server 2008 will be available to Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and computer manufacturers for the product’s final physical replication and distribution. SQL Server 2008 is equipped with new capabilities in areas like data governance, support for spatial data, policy-based management and advanced reporting and analysis services. Along with the RTM, Microsoft also announced that SQL Server 2008 is available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

Pallavi Kathuria, director – Server Business Group, Microsoft India, said, “Microsoft SQL Server 2008 includes tightly integrated functionality for data management as well as advanced business intelligence. By offering a complete solution, we allow customers to focus on deriving the most value from their data assets.”

SQL Server 2008 is available in six editions - SQL Server 2008 Enterprise, SQL Server 2008 Standard, SQL Server 2008 Workgroup, SQL Server 2008 Web, SQL Server 2008 Express and SQL Server Compact. The new version will allow users to store data from structured, semi-structured and unstructured documents (such as images and music) directly within the database.

With the new version, data can be stored and accessed in large servers within the data centre including desktops and mobile devices, enabling users to have control over their data irrespective of its storage location.