Microsoft launches 2008 enterprise products

Thousands of customers and partners attended the launch at the Sandton Convention Centre – one of 225 such events around the world – to see the wraps being taken off Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008. The theme of the event was “Heroes Happen Here,” highlighting the work that IT professionals, developers and partners do every day to create solutions and applications that keep global commerce and industry running.

Move to a virtualised environment

The new enterprise products are intended to help customers to more efficiently and securely manage their entire infrastructure and move to a virtualised environment while also delivering business intelligence and next-generation web experiences to boost business results.

Manoj Bhoola, the head of the Server and Tools division at Microsoft SA, said the launch is a major milestone to help customers on the road to Dynamic IT, Microsoft's initiative to help customers optimise their people, processes and technology, and in turn position IT as a strategic asset for their business.

“IT professionals and developers tell us they spend too much time and money managing existing systems and not enough investing in new capabilities that create strategic advantage,” said Bhoola. “That feedback is at the core of the innovations in this new wave of products.”

White paper

A white paper detailing usage scenarios and providing more data on the impact of deploying Windows Server 2008 is available at www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/product-information.aspx.

In a related announcement, Microsoft detailed extensive investments in programs and tools for software and hardware partners.