Microsoft announces expanded SQL Server 2005 product line to meet customers` growing demands

Microsoft has detailed the new product line for Microsoft SQL Server 2005, the next version of its flagship database and analysis product, including information on new functionality and pricing for the expanded SQL Server 2005 product line.

The SQL Server 2005 product family has been redesigned to better meet the needs of each customer segment and, as a low-cost mainstream database; it will deliver unprecedented value and functionality compared with competitive solutions.

The four new editions will offer a range of features, from high availability and robust scalability to advanced business intelligence tools, designed to empower users across an organisation through a more secure, reliable and productive data management platform. In addition, with the reduced application downtime, robust scalability and performance, and tight security controls, SQL Server 2005 represents a huge step forward in supporting the most demanding enterprise systems in the world.

Since SQL Server is part of Windows Server System, customers also will receive the added benefits of reduced TCO and faster development time through the increased manageability and integration that result from the common engineering strategy implemented across Windows Server System products.

The SQL Server 2005 product line will consist of the following:

* SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition, a complete data and analysis platform for large mission-critical business applications.

* SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition, a complete data and analysis platform designed for medium-sized businesses.

* SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, an affordable, easy-to-use and simple-to-manage database solution for small to medium-sized organisations.

* SQL Server 2005 Express Edition, a no-cost, easy-to-use version of SQL Server 2005 designed for building simple data-driven applications.

Along with the SQL Server 2005 product line, Microsoft announced it would immediately make available SQL Server 2000 Workgroup Edition. This version will have the same focus as SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, but will be based on SQL Server 2000 functionality.

"The industry has changed since we introduced SQL Server 2000. With the new SQL Server 2005 product line, we`ve increased the breadth of our data management solutions to offer more choices to customers," said Paul Flessner, senior vice-president of Server Applications at Microsoft. "We have increased the functionality in SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition and SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition and extended the platform with SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. We`re now better equipped to offer solutions that meet the technological and budgetary requirements of our customers. Our goal is to make enterprise-class data management and analysis affordable to a wide range of customers while driving complexity out of database systems - all at a lower total cost of ownership."

With SQL Server 2005, customers will be able to take advantage of Microsoft`s recently announced licensing for multicore processors, which allows customers to license SQL Server 2005 on a per-processor basis, as opposed to competing offerings that license per core. This new model enhances computing performance and functionality and enables customers to receive maximum value from their technology investment.

Unlike its major competitors, Microsoft is also leading the industry in high availability by being the first database vendor to allow customers to utilise passive failover servers with SQL Server 2005 without requiring additional licences, enabling customers to create highly available environments at a low cost. The sections below provide more detail about each edition`s features and pricing in the US, although prices may vary in other regions.

SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition is a fully integrated data management and analysis platform for business-critical enterprise applications, with many new features to meet the growing demands of large-scale customers. This edition will offer data partitioning, advanced high availability with database mirroring, complex analytic and integration capabilities, ad hoc reporting with Report Builder, database snapshot, and complete online and parallel operations, ensuring a powerful and reliable system to support large and growing enterprise applications. SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition delivers out-of-the-box robust scalability, high availability and advanced business intelligence (BI) features, making it the most competitively priced and comprehensive enterprise solution available. Microsoft will also continue to offer SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition for developers looking to build and test SQL Server-based applications.

SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition is a complete data management and analysis platform designed for medium-sized businesses and infrastructures that require highly available systems. This edition will include enhanced functionality previously only available with SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition, such as high availability with database mirroring and clustering, and integrated 64-bit support for both x64 and Itanium systems, which will give medium-sized companies more flexibility for growth before investing in Enterprise Edition. Standard Edition supports up to four processors, unlimited database size and unlimited system memory.

Server 2005 Standard Edition will also include SQL Server Integration Services, SQL Server Analysis Services and SQL Server Reporting Services, providing customers with enhanced BI functionality at no additional cost.

Workgroup Edition is the newest product available for both SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005, and will provide an affordable and easy-to-use database solution designed specifically for small- to medium-sized organisations.

It is the ideal choice for customers who want rich database features in a simple-to-manage solution, with more scalability than SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. Workgroup Edition supports up to two processors, unlimited database size and 2GB of memory, making it an extremely low-cost full-size database solution.

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition replaces Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) for SQL Server 2000 and is a free and redistributable version of the SQL Server 2005 database engine. This edition is the fastest way for novice developers to learn, develop and deploy small footprint, data-driven applications, as well as an easy way for customers and partners to get started with SQL Server 2005. It also will be useful for larger enterprise companies looking to dedicate smaller databases to developer projects.

In addition, partners can embed and redistribute SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with their applications. Available for free via Web download, SQL Server 2005 Express Edition will include a graphical management tool; a report wizard and controls; replication, SQL Service Broker client, native database encryption and key management support; and Common Language Runtime (CLR) and Extensible Markup Language (XML) support.

Dell announced it will be the first company to agree to offer SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition and Standard Edition pre-packaged with Dell PowerEdge servers. This will provide small and medium-sized business customers with a simplified one-stop option for purchasing a Dell PowerEdge server with SQL Server licensing. Advanced software support for SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005 Workgroup and Standard Editions, including troubleshooting and 30-day access to Dell`s Getting Started Help Line, will also be available to customers direct from Dell.

Dell also released a new price/performance benchmark for TPC-C using SQL Server 2000 Workgroup Edition on Dell PowerEdge servers. The new record of $1.40/tpmC is a 10-cent improvement from Microsoft and Dell`s previous number one position, of $1.50/tpmC using SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition.

"Dell and Microsoft have a long-standing alliance to develop integrated solutions that deliver our customers value and help their businesses grow," said Linda York, vice-president of global alliances, Product Group, at Dell. "The combination of Dell PowerEdge Servers with 64-bit Intel Xeon processors and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 delivers on our relationship by providing customers with a powerful and highly reliable server platform that meets their demanding database application needs today and in the future."