SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition released to web!

I often get the question from customers of how to take data onto a mobile device and synchronise customer information, sales orders or other data.

I'm always suprised how few people are aware of our Mobile SQL client which has now been renamed to SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition.  (The product has been through more name changes than Prince to be fair)

The latest version got released Monday!

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition is the next version of SQL Server Mobile.  SQL Server Compact extends the SQL Server Mobile technology by offering a low maintenance, compact embedded database for single-user client applications for all Windows platforms including tablet PCs, pocket PCs, smart phones and desktops.

Just as with SQL Server Mobile, SQL Server Compact is a free, easy-to-use, lightweight, and embeddable version of SQL Server 2005 for developing desktop and mobile applications.

The new enhancements in SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition are:

1. Tight integration with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 as well as the .NET Framework and support for a familiar query syntax and common programming model make for a consistent developer experience.

2. Click once compatibility enables easy deployment and Microsoft Update integration allows for simple maintenance plans.

3. Integration with business intelligence features allows for extending business insights across the organization to data sources in distributed and mobile applications.

4. Synchronisation services to SQL Server enables distributed occasionally connected applications to take their data anywhere, anytime, anyplace.

You can get more details on the product HERE