Microsoft's next-generation database software SQL Server 2008 has been released to manufacturers.

The upgrade will provide enhanced data handling capabilities, Microsoft claimed, adding enterprise-class business intelligence and data warehousing tools out of the box.

The ability to scale is one of the key new features of SQL Server 2008, said Ted Kummert, Microsoft's corporate vice president of data and storage platforms. SQL Server 2008 is far more scalable, improves performance and can handle higher levels of user concurrency, he added.

The release is also a significant milestone for Microsoft in terms of its overall software licensing strategy.

Microsoft made predictable and regular product upgrades a cornerstone of its Software Assurance programme, and the firm has fulfilled its obligations by delivering SQL Server 2008 within the anticipated 24-36 month window.

"Wow, this is a great day," said Dan Jones, SQL Server group programme manager at Microsoft, "we nailed it."

SQL Server 2008 is available immediately to download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.

It will be offered in several editions, such as Enterprise, Workgroup and Standard. And for the first time, Microsoft is offering a version specifically for the web, which will be tuned for partners wanting to offer a hosted version of SQL Server 2008.

Other new features include: improved ability to load data from Oracle, Teradata and SAP NetWeaver; enhanced security features, allowing adminstrators to encrypt data and provide audit trails, policy-based managed, enabling users to enforce group policies; and support for spatial data, for compatibility with location-based applications.