The new SQL Server 2005 Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) Driver will allow IT organizations to use Java to create applications that access data stored in SQL Server 2000 or 2005. Prior to the release of Microsoft's JDBC driver, customers wanting to access SQL Server data from Java had to use drivers from third parties, such as DataDirect. The new Microsoft driver supports Java-based desktop applications as well as server applications using Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) and runs on Linux and Solaris in addition to Windows 2000 SP4, Windows server 2003 SP1, and Windows XP SP2.

Although Microsoft would prefer that IT organizations build desktop applications with one of its own data access technologies, such as ADO.NET or even the older ODBC API, it is unwilling to sacrifice sales of SQL Server in order to achieve that goal. Competing products from IBM and Oracle have supported JDBC for several years.

The JDBC Driver can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e22bc83b-32ff-4474-a44a-22b6ae2c4e17&DisplayLang=en.