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Microsoft delays SQL Server 2008 RTM to third quarter

Visual Studio 2008 went to manufacturing at the end of 2007. Windows Server 2008 is expected to be RTM'd in February. But SQL Server 2008 -- the other of the three products Microsoft is slated to launch together on February 27, 2008, in a big corporate event in Los Angeles -- is running further behind.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Visual Studio 2008 went to manufacturing at the end of 2007. Windows Server 2008 is expected to be RTM'd in February. But SQL Server 2008 -- the other of the three products Microsoft is slated to launch together on February 27, 2008, in a big corporate event in Los Angeles -- is running further behind.

Microsoft officials last year said SQL Server 2008 would likely be released to manufacturing in the second quarter of 2008.

But in a blog post on January 25, SQL Server Director of Product Management Francois Ajenstat said that the new date for SQL Server 2008's RTM is some time in the third quarter of this year.

"Microsoft is excited to deliver a feature complete CTP (Community Technology Preview test release) during the Heroes Happen Here launch wave and a release candidate (RC) in Q2 calendar year 2008, with final Release to manufacturing (RTM) of SQL Server 2008 expected in Q3. Our goal is to deliver the highest quality product possible and we simply want to use the time to meet the high bar that you, our customers, expect. "

Ajenstat emphasized the SQL Server 2008 delay -- the reasons for which he did not detail -- will still go on as planned on February 27.

In order to speed up its SQL Server development process, Microsoft has been testing SQL Server 2008, code-named “Katmai,” via a series of CTPs, rather than more traditional betas. Microsoft released a first SQL Server 2008 CTP in June 2007.

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