Microsoft previews SQL Server 2005

Microsoft has released its third Community Technical Preview of the SQL Server 2005 database.

The new code drop, the first CTP since December, included the Report Builder, Management Studio features and 64-bit support, Microsoft said.

Microsoft said it would also post more Visual Studio 2005 bits to ensure that the recently released Visual Studio CTP worked with this latest code.

A Microsoft spokeswoman said the third -- and hopefully final -- beta of the database was still on track for release by the end of March.

The CTP for the first SQL Server 2005, code-named Yukon, dropped in October, when Microsoft said it was adding another test round to the delayed database.

Last month, Microsoft executives announced pricing and packaging details -- including a new workgroup option -- for the long-awaited database.

Resellers are awaiting the upcoming database along with the closely allied Visual Studio 2005 tool set.

Many expect to develop business intelligence applications with the software's bulked-up analytics, reporting, and OLAP tools.

Some resellers have said Microsoft is under the gun after numerous delays to SQL Server 2005 and aggressive price moves by Oracle and IBM.

Both database powers are reportedly devoting resources to entrench their databases in smaller companies and corporate departments where SQL Server has held sway.