Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the latest Community Technology Preview (CTP) for Microsoft® SQL Server (TM) 2005 and new reporting features for SQL Server 2000. This CTP is the third in a series of releases leading up to the launch of the next version of the company's flagship data management and analysis platform, and it includes significant new features such as Report Builder, Management Studio improvements and additional 64-bit support. Based on the success of SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services, Microsoft also announced reporting enhancements for that product, including the release of SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services Service Pack 2 (SP2) and new Report Packs for Microsoft Business Solutions--Great Plains® 8.0 and Internet Information Services (IIS) log files.

"Our goal since we introduced BI capabilities in SQL Server was to give as many people as possible greater insight into their business and the market to make better, more-informed decisions, and Reporting Services is a major component in delivering on that vision," said Bill Baker, general manager for SQL Server Business Intelligence at Microsoft. "As part of this goal, we want to make our customers more efficient, and the new Report Builder in SQL Server 2005, new Web Parts and printing functionality in SQL Server 2000, and additional Report Packs are all examples of how we are listening to customers' pain points and delivering reporting tools that provide relief."