Microsoft is a huge company with international presence and all. However, there are some areas where the company has been struggling to get to the top such as in database service provision. It is not that their database management products are bad. Quite on the contrary, they are among the best that have ever been created on this planet. There are however more powerful systems that are available in the market such as Oracle. There is no doubting that the Oracle database is the most popular database system that is currently being used. Microsoft wants to increase its market share and come up at the top.
In order to do this, Microsoft is now providing free licenses for its database software to all Oracle Corp. clients. Every company that seeks to switch from Oracle can apply to procure the new SQL server software at no cost whatsoever. It is not the first time that Microsoft is offering things for free. They did the same thing with Windows 10 OS and that has done wonders for the company’s market share. Aside from providing the free software they are also giving free training for the DBAs who are use to the Oracle system.
Free for all Oracle users
This sounds all good and cheap especially for a business that is looking forward to transforming its database and database management structure completely. Oracle and SQL server are quite different from each other. Therefore, you are going to get a totally different feel after the change. However, there are terms and conditions that you must observe. This free offer does not come with the hardware. You have to get your own hardware for the software installation. Secondly, clients will have to sign up for a Software Assurance license. This license is valid for three-years and it is paid for. Generally, it is only the SQL software that is offered for free; every other accompaniment will require you to pay for it.
With the unveiling of SQL Server 2016, business owners across the globe are very excited. As a matter of fact, the news of freebies was announced during the launching of this edition of the database. To echo the words of the Microsoft North America’s president, for each and every instance of Oracle that your business has, Microsoft is going to provide you with a free SQL Server license. The company also offered to help invest in the migration costs for your business. They will provide the engineers who are going to help your company shift from Oracle.
Database for Linux
According to the IDC, Microsoft’s share of the market in database sales was half that of Oracle in 2014. As such Microsoft’s team is trying to boost its share market in this part of business. It was also announced that Microsoft has set plans in place to create SQL software for users of the Linux systems.
This is a smart move to snatch customers from Oracle. In as much as this database is the best of the best it is more than ten times the cost of the SQL Server. Now that there is the 2016 edition of the server, you can be sure that many people will want to get a taste of what it has to offer.