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Microsoft launched the mobile version of the SQL server 2005 to encourage the adoption of mobility devices among both large enterprises and smaller businesses. The SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition (SQL Server Mobile) was developed at its India development center in Hyderabad.
 Sudeep Bharti, director, Mobile Devices Group, Microsoft India Development Center, reveals the industry response to the product and its finer points to Sigi Achappa. Excerpts:
What is the industry’s response to Mobile 3.0 (Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition)?
We are seeing very good response from enterprises. Since we have just launched the product it will be difficult to tell. Most of the customers are large enterprises or SMBs.
SQL mobile edition is a third version technology. We found a rapidly growing need to enable enterprises, and small and medium businesses, which have their data sitting in the backend, to go mobile; especially, the field force, auto-inventory, healthcare executives, as they need to access data on a real-time basis. This solution makes it easier for developers to integrate data on a personal device. It is cost-effective and affordable to SMBs, as it is has leveraged other Microsoft assets such as the Visual Studio and SQL server products. And it has been simplified for people to develop applications.
It is very useful in the retail industry -- writing applications for inventory control. With Visual Studio integration so it is useful not only for desktops but also for the mobile worker. And not only from the point of view of developing, but also downloading is much easier.
The mobility industry is growing rapidly. US Postal is rolling out 100,000 devices for its employees. In India, the manufacturing industry is making inroads into mobility -- and with partners such as Wipro, Infosys and TCS, we plan to deliver these solutions rapidly.
What about the security features, since we are dealing with critical data?
Since it is connected to the network, this has gone through the utmost security measures. The security coverage has been the same as for the other SQL server -- that demanded a very high security threshold and has undergone the same kind of tests. We are very happy with the security features. This product brings data out and also synchronizes with the backend; therefore a high level encryption has been used.
What edge does 3.0 have when compared to other competing systems?
Many software companies have developed products for database system management and have anchored the coveted high-end systems that are forming the backbone of big businesses.
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition is the compact database for rapidly developing applications that extend enterprise data management capabilities to mobile devices. One of its new features is that it integrates with SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. This allows SQL Server Mobile to be able to easily deploy mobile applications on devices and be able to synchronize and replicate changes between these devices and the SQL Server 2005.
SQL Server Mobile has many new and updated features that enhance the database reliability and performance. These improvements can be divided into general feature categories: synchronization, the storage engine, and the query processor.
How can enterprises leverage this product to bring about mobility?
SQL Server delivers powerful, familiar tools to IT professionals as well as to information workers, reducing the complexity of creating, deploying, managing, and using enterprise data and analytical applications on platforms ranging from mobile devices to enterprise data systems. Through a comprehensive feature set, interoperability with existing systems, and automation of routine tasks, SQL Server Mobile 2005 provides a complete data solution for enterprises of all sizes.
The software will be embedded in the ROM of Microsoft Smartphone too, not just in Pocket PC and has the capability to run on Tablet PC. The SQL Server Mobile edition has the ability to synchronize wirelessly through Internet over HTTP with Microsoft SQL Server and during the synching data is compressed in order to speed up transfers.
What kind of innovation are you planning for this product?
We have completely developed this product out of India. Therefore it is our responsibility to interact with customers, fix problems and also innovate on it. We have an idea taking shape, but we are not ready to reveal it right away--maybe in the next 18-24 months.
Will further innovation revolve around making it compatible with operating systems other than Windows?
We currently have no plans to port SQL Mobile to any other operating system. However, SQL Mobile provides standards compliant interfaces for 3rd party developers to synchronize data between SQL Mobile and database servers from other vendors.
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