Next SQL Server Announced

Improved scalability and support for new data types are planned for “Katmai,” the code name for the next major release of the SQL Server database management platform. The new features will help companies cope with growing volumes of corporate data and allow customers and partners to build new types of applications on SQL Server. The release also will debut a tool acquired from partner SoftArtisans that allows nontechnical users to work with SQL Server reports in Word and Excel. Microsoft plans to ship Katmai in 2008 but will not preview the product until the third quarter of 2007, which could squeeze the schedule.

Scale, LINQ, New Types Lead

SQL Server is Microsoft’s database management system and business intelligence (BI) platform, and was last updated in Nov. 2005 with the release of SQL Server 2005. The product’s main competition comes from Oracle and IBM. According to announcements made at the Microsoft Business Intelligence conference in May 2007, the product’s next major version will ship in 2008.