News

Beta Code Released for SQL Server Reporting Services

• By Scott Bekker
• October 16, 2003

The next major business intelligence freebie in Microsoft's SQL Server database took a step closer to reality recently when Microsoft posted the Beta 2 of its Reporting Services for SQL Server 2000.

When it ships, reporting services will join other business intelligence components that have gone into SQL Server starting with the SQL Server 7.0 launch such as OLAP services and data mining services. As with those previous services, reporting services will be included with the purchase of the base SQL Server license. Customers installing the new service on a server with an existing SQL Server license do not need any additional licenses.

Like most BI reporting products, Microsoft's reporting services will be designed to provide information from most data sources, including non-Microsoft sources, to any device. New to the Beta 2 release are the capability of including charts in reports and deployment of reporting services across a Web farm.

SQL Server director of product management Stan Sorensen expects more than 10,000 users to participate in the open beta stage. An earlier closed beta attracted about 5,000 would-be signups, although the program only supported 250. ISVs building Microsoft Reporting Services into their offerings include Cizer, Configuresoft, MaxQ Technologies, MIS, OutlookSoft, Panorama Software and ProClarity.