MS Preps Launch for New Visual Studio, SQL Server

Microsoft on Tuesday said it was preparing a global debut for SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, and BizTalk Server 2006, which will launch November 7 at an event in San Francisco. The company says that the newest versions of the programs will offer better interoperability, productivity features, and enhanced support.

"These products mark a new generation of platforms for connected systems, and are not only designed to work better together, but will enable customers to better connect with existing systems, trading partners, customers and employees," Andy Lees, vice president of the server division at Microsoft told attendees of Tech Ed 2005 Europe.

In Lees' keynote, he said that several companies and organizations are already using the tools, and he expects more than 20 other companies to install and deploy these products before their initial launch.

Lees also said that Microsoft was making significant progress in interoperability, an area the company's critics have said Microsoft neglects. The new version of SQL Server will have the capability to better integrate with Java/J2EE applications, allowing the programs to use SQL server natively.

Visual Studio 2005 will also integrate deeper with Microsoft Office, allowing developers to write applications that can work on top of Office applications. The newest version of these tools will include support for Outlook and Outlook-managed code.

Lees made the speech at Tech Ed Europe 2005 in Amsterdam, Netherlands that is now in it's 12th year. The event is Microsoft's biggest developer conference in Europe.