Microsoft Reveals SQL Server Pricing, Packages

Microsoft Reveals SQL Server Pricing, Packages: "Microsoft (Quote, Chart) announced final features and pricing for its forthcoming SQL Server 2005 database, including a new edition of software priced between the developer and standard versions.
The software giant also deepened its partnership with Dell, inking a formal original equipment manufacturers (OEM) agreement with the systems vendor to provide customers better support.
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Microsoft is confident it will be able to offer functionality and performance comparable to database software from rival products Oracle 10g and IBM DB2 at a lower cost, he added. For example, he said Microsoft won't charge for multi-core architectures, which means customers pay per processor socket instead of per chip.
Oracle and IBM charge per processor. Microsoft anticipates multi-core architectures will become more mainstream, effectively doubling the per-processor pricing of database products from Oracle and IBM.
Moreover, Rizzo said Oracle and IBM force customers to buy costly add-ons for management, high availability and business intelligence.
In related Microsoft database news, Dell, already the top reseller of SQL Server 2000, will resell SQL Server 2000 Workgroup Edition, SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition and SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition along with its PowerEdge servers.
Dell will also offer front-line customer support for Microsoft software and will embark on a sales and marketing initiative."

Dell is also apparently the top reseller of Oracle Database; small world... Dell also reaffirms its commitment to shipping only Intel-based PCs.