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Microsoft confirms SP-4 for SQL Server 2005 database

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Feb. 16, 2010

Microsoft has confirmed today that it will produce its long awaited Service Pack 4 for its SQL Server 2005 database. The software giant said SP4 should be ready around mid-November 2010.

In January, Microsoft said that the next version of SQL Server 2008 R2 will be available in early spring.

"Our business customers requested another servicing release for SQL Server 2005. Given their positive feedback, Microsoft has decided to release SP4 for SQL Server 2005," said SQL Server program manager Matthias Berndt in a blog post.

Berndt also reiterated that Microsoft planned to release SQL Server 2008 SP2 in the third quarter of this year as well.

"Based on current support volume as well as the fact that SQL Server 2005 will enter into extended support on April 13, 2011, however, we anticipate this to be the last Service Pack release for this SQL Server version."

"Extended support for SQL Server 2005 will be available through April 12, 2016," Berndt added.

The new version will appear on Microsoft's price list and become available to buyers at that time.

The software behemoth ended support for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 last month. Microsoft released SP3 for the software in November 2008. However, it seems that the database is far from end of life yet, despite Redmond's desire to convince its customers to upgrade to the new version.

Perhaps all that will change when SQL Server 2008 R2, which is currently in technical preview, lands sometime in October or November of 2010.

Overall, Microsoft has had a long history of trying to shorten the life cycle of some of its operating systems and of its SQL Server family of database products.

But as can be seen with this news release and of others, the software giant often appears to rethink its strategy and later decides to further extend the support of some of its products by releasing a new service pack.

But for the short to medium term, whether Microsoft will continue that strategy or modify it down the road is anybody's guess, however.

Source: Microsoft.

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