Microsoft Offers Free Database Software to Lure Oracle Customers
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Microsoft Corp. is offering free licenses for its database software to current Oracle Corp. customers in its latest effort to wrestle market share from its competitor.
Companies considering switching can apply to get Microsoft’s new SQL server software at no cost. Microsoft is even offering free training for database administrators accustomed to using Oracle. There are caveats, however: the offer doesn’t include hardware and customers have to sign up (and pay for) a three-year Software Assurance license, for support and services. Essentially, only the main SQL software is free.