On April 30, 2009, Microsoft plans not only to offer MSDN and TechNet subscribers the Release Candidate bits of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (Windows 7 Server), but also a test of its next data platform. The Redmond company is in fact looking to deliver a sneak peek at the successor of SQL Server 2008, namely SQL Server Codenamed Kilimanjaro. In this regard, on April 30, 2009, between 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Americas) Pacific Time (US & Canada), Microsoft will host “An Early look at SQL Server ‘Kilimanjaro’ and project codenamed ‘Madison’” webcast.

“This session will provide you with an sneak preview into the next release of SQL Server codenamed ‘Kilimanjaro’ as well as project ‘Madison’ both of which will ship in the first half of CY 2010. This session will introduce at a high level the set of upcoming technologies in the areas of Self Service Business Intelligence, Application & Multi-Server Management and Scale-out Data Warehousing as well as several other key capabilities planned for the next release of SQL Server,” said Chris Vidotto, Microsoft Solution Specialist Application Platform Melbourne Australia.

Te software giant introduced SQL Server Codenamed Kilimanjaro back in October 2008. At that time, Ted Kummert, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Data and Platform Storage Division, indicated to the audience of the second annual Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) Conference 2008 that Kilimanjaro would be a Business Intelligence-focused release. Microsoft is looking to deliver the first Technology preview of SQL Server Codenamed Kilimanjaro in 2009.

Project Madison is a solution that will accompany SQL Server Codenamed Kilimanjaro in 2009. The evolution of the technologies acquired concomitantly with DATAllegro, Madison is set to be a data-warehouse-appliance. Microsoft has so far offered little details about both Kilimanjaro and Madison, the more reason to participate in the webcast and get a taste of the evolution of the company's data platform. SQL Server Codenamed Kilimanjaro is planned for general availability in the first half of 2010.