Microsoft Sets SQL Server Free

SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft unveiled its plans to release a free, mobile version of its SQL Server database at a customer event here today. SQL Server Everywhere Edition is scheduled for release in the second half of this year.

The stripped down mobile version of Microsoft’s enterprise class SQL Server database software will be free to download and use. Microsoft also said it plans to embed “Everywhere” in mobile devices by making it part of the Windows Mobile services already includes in many PDAs and other portable computers.

“We’ve had a lot of requests for a lightweight, very small database that can be truly embedded in mobile applications as one file, and we’ve addressed that here,” Illya Bukshteyn, SQL Server Marketing Director at Microsoft told internetnews.com. “It’s pretty unique to have a free database with reporting capabilities and BI [business intelligence] and runs applications.”

SQL Server Everywhere is free to use, but to access or synchronize with a Microsoft SQL Server database users need a client license. Microsoft offers both individual client and per processor licenses.

Full article: internetnews.com