Microsoft releases Visual Studio, SQL Server 2005

Microsoft Corp. Thursday said it released to manufacturing Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005, new versions of its developer tools and database that will officially be launched on Nov. 7.

The company also plans to release soon a Community Technology Preview (CTP) of BizTalk Server 2006, which also will be launched Nov. 7 but is not expected to ship until early next year, according to Kim Colley, a representative from Microsoft's public relations agency, Waggener Edstrom Inc.

On Monday, the IDG News Service reported that Visual Studio 2005 would be available to Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers sometime this week. In his Web log Thursday, S. Somasegar, corporate vice president of Microsoft's developer division, said that the toolset would be available to MSDN subscribers Thursday.

Somasegar also congratulated his team on the release of Visual Studio in his Web log, and thanked participants in its beta program for helping Microsoft deliver a better set of developer tools.

"This is by far the best Visual Studio and .NET Framework release that we have ever done," he said. "I also want to take this opportunity to thank the community and early adopter customers for their incredible help and invaluable contributions in helping us ship the right product."

Developers have been waiting for Visual Studio 2005, formerly code-named Whidbey, for quite some time. Microsoft originally planned to release Visual Studio in spring 2004, but the release of the toolset was delayed several times because the product was not ready for prime time.

SQL Server 2005, formerly code-named Yukon, also has been the victim of Microsoft delays that frustrated customers and developers.