News.com meldt dat captain Steve de tweede beta van SQL Server 2000 heeft uitgebracht. Microsoft denkt met SQL Server 2000 te kunnen concurreren met de SQL servers van Oracle, IBM en Informix, die qua marktaandeel voor liggen op Microsoft:
The second test version of SQL Server 2000 gives Microsoft's software developers their first look at the technology. Microsoft expects about 200,000 of its customers worldwide to test the product before the final version is released this summer. An initial test version was released last fall but was limited to several hundred Microsoft customers and partners.Microsoft executives are touting the new database as powerful and reliable enough for large businesses and e-commerce Web sites and hopes it can better compete against rival offerings. Microsoft currently ranks fourth in total database sales, behind Oracle, IBM and Informix, according to analyst firm International Data Corp.
Barry Goffe, Microsoft's lead product manager for SQL Server, says the new SQL Server database offers more Web support, more security and improved analysis for business information.