Microsoft Corp has done a great job of re-working the Sybase 4.2 database code as its SQL Server 7 release, according to Meta Group. Microsoft dissolved its seven-year relationship with Sybase in 1994 at which point Sybase was offering version 10 of its database, which it followed with Sybase 11 in 1995 aimed at Microsoft’s SQL Server 6. Even though Microsoft has added row- level locking in SQL Server 7 (Sybase’s Adaptive Server 11.5 incorporating the same row-level functionality isn’t due to become fully available until the end of this year), Meta thinks that SQL Server 7 still lags Oracle, Informix, IBM and Sybase as far as support for objects and partitioning goes. However it is closing the gap, and should be able to address 70%+ of the database market, Meta adds. Moreover, Microsoft’s pricing model – a $99 per user upgrade for the first 99 days, about half the usual upgrade price for small users – should drive the rest of the market to lower their tags. Standard upgrades cost $500 plus client licenses, which are $2,000 for 10 users. The regular desktop price will be $1,400 for five users. SQL Server 7.0 Enterprise starts at $8,000 for 25 users. Meta didn’t say whether it expects sales of the desktop SQL Server 7 will eat into sales of Microsoft’s desktop Access database, currently being fitted with an SQL Server-compatible engine.
