Microsoft Demonstrates SQL Server for Windows CE To Developers of Mobile and Embedded Solutions

SQL Server Scalability Now Extends From the Enterprise To Embedded, Handheld and Palm-Size Devices

DENVER - June 8, 1999 - Today at the Windows^® CE Developers Conference, Microsoft Corp. demonstrated Microsoft^® SQL Server™ for the Windows CE operating system. This event marks the fulfillment of Microsoft's strategic goal to provide a scalable, reliable and easy-to-use SQL Server solution that extends from productivity appliances such as handheld, palm-size and embedded Windows CE-based devices up to the enterprise.

"The new digital economy challenges businesses to work more closely with customers and to integrate data across all business processes," said Douglas Leland, SQL Server group product manager at Microsoft. "To succeed, businesses must create new mobile applications that can be easily deployed in the field, on the shop or warehouse floor, or on-site with the customer. SQL Server for Windows CE helps businesses accomplish these goals by allowing them to use productivity appliances and create sophisticated applications."

SQL Server 7.0 Desktop has proven successful for notebook- and laptop-based solutions with seamless scalability up to SQL Server 7.0 and SQL Server 7.0 Enterprise Edition. SQL Server for Windows CE further extends the family to productivity devices targeting the following classes of distributed applications:

• Mobile devices, such as sales force automation or service dispatch, that run on fully functional productivity appliances and often complement a suite of personal and
  line-of-business applications
• Embedded devices, such as set-top boxes, process control systems or interactive kiosks, that run on dedicated productivity appliances serving singular, often automated business functions

Until now, building these solutions has been challenging because of inconsistent features, functionality and programming models from productivity appliances to enterprise servers, as well as a lack of standard, integrated support for data synchronization across platforms. SQL Server for Windows CE is the first easy-to-use, small-footprint platform that meets these fundamental requirements.

Mobile and Embedded Application Development Made Easy

SQL Server for Windows CE provides independent software vendors (ISVs) and developers with a consistent programming model and API set across all Windows platforms. Commercial and corporate developers can quickly and easily develop applications for SQL Server for Windows CE by taking advantage of their existing experience with the Visual Basic^® and Visual C++^® development systems and by using a consistent programming model based on OLE DB and ADO.

Based on extensive feedback gathered from customers, SQL Server for Windows CE provides all of the essential relational database management system (RDBMS) functionality and the small footprint required for scenarios such as sales force automation, physician diagnostic systems and retail point of sale. SQL Server for Windows CE supports all of the major CPUs for Windows CE and offers three key components: a robust data store for data persistence; a query processor to simplify and optimize complex queries; and reliable and scalable bidirectional replication capabilities to allow for the automated synchronization of data between productivity appliances and a centralized, SQL Server-based data store.

"Our customers are demanding a high-performance, lightweight engine for robust business applications," said Mark N. Gentile, president and CEO of Odyssey Software Inc. "Our early benchmarks with SQL Server for Windows CE show great performance results. We will absolutely support SQL Server for Windows CE in our product line, CEFusion for disconnected operations."

SQL Server Is a World-Class RDBMS

Created by a world-class development team, Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 is the leading Windows NT^® Server operating system-based database, bringing business advantage and improved decision-making to all levels of an organization through the power of data warehousing, industry solutions and interoperability with Microsoft Office.

Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 enables ISVs and customers to build and deploy scalable database solutions for business intelligence, business operations, commerce and mobile solutions. Microsoft SQL Server is a member of the Microsoft BackOffice^® family, a set of servers that make it easy to build, manage and deploy powerful business solutions.

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