Microsoft will unveil the next major release of its SQL Server database at this year's Comdex tradeshow in Las Vegas, a senior executive has revealed.
Rich Glew, Microsoft's marketing manager for the Digital Nervous System, said recently version 7.0 of the product will ship in mid-November. When questioned by ARN, Doug Leland, Microsoft's lead product manager for SQL Server marketing, said he "would not publicly confirm" the assertion, saying only the company is targeting a fourth quarter timeframe.
The release, Microsoft's first major SQL Server upgrade in 24 months, will be available in three versions: SQL Server 7.0 Desktop Edition, SQL Server 7.0 Standard Edition and SQL Server Enterprise Edition.
The enterprise edition will scale to one terabyte which Leland claims will make SQL Server a serious contender in the database market. But the product's tight integration with the upcoming Office 2000 versions of Excel and Access applications could slow its initial uptake.
The ability to analyse SQL Server data directly in Excel or use it transparently in Access will not be available until Office 2000 is released next year.
